Sean Newcomb walked seven of 25 batters he faced and Braves hitters went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and failed to score after loading the bases with none out, but did get a ninth-ining homer from Ozzie Albies, a resounding first major lague hit for the undersized dynamo prospect.
That about summed up the proceedings at SunTrust Park, where the Braves gave the Dodgers too many scoring chances and failed to convert any of their own outside of the first and ninth innings of a 7-4 loss in a series finale that dropped Atlanta to 2-9 in its past 11 games.
"We had a hard time getting the big hit," said manager Brian Snitker, whose Braves were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position before Albies homered with two runners on base.
Veteran right fielder Nick Markakis also got his 2,000th career hit at home in front of his family, but the Woodstock High School graduate didn't get to enjoy a win with the fireworks and standing ovation he received after his fourth-inning single.
The Braves have won just four of their past 17 games, though three wins came against the Dodgers, baseball’s best and hottest team.
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, the Braves loaded the bases on consecutive walks by Albies and pinch-hitter Lane Adams and a single from Ender Inciarte. But Adams made the cardinal sin of getting picked off second base when Wood caught him drifting too far off second base after a pitch. Brandon Phillips grounded into a double play to end the scoreless inning.
“Getting picked off was not good in that one inning,” Snitker said. “That kind of hurts, because even if Brandon hits into a double play at least we score a run there and kind of get closer.”
Asked if he said anything to Adams afterward, Snitker said, “Don’t need to. That can’t happen.”
Dodgers All-Star Alex Wood (13-1) allowed one run on seven hits and two walks in six innings, two starts after the former Braves (and University of Georgia) left-hander gave up a season-high nine hits and career-high nine runs without making it out of the fifth inning of a 12-3 loss to the Braves at Dodger Stadium.
Meanwhile, Newcomb’s control problems continued to worsen as he allowed a career-high seven walks and four hits in 4 2/3 innings in his 10th major league start, though managing to limit the Dodgers to three runs before he exited.
His seven strikeouts included a few at most-opportune times to get out of trouble.
“I guess I just have to do a better job of pounding the zone and stop trying to miss so many bats,” said Newcomb, the first Braves pitcher to walk seven in a game since Tommy Hanson on July 25, 2012. “I think I get too fine trying to punch people out (strike out) and make things happen myself, rather than letting them hit it. Just get in the zone more.”
Newcomb walked No. 8 hitter Yasiel Puig in the fourth inning and gave up a two-run homer to Chris Taylor two batters later to put the Dodgers ahead, 3-1. The four-seam fastball to Taylor was clocked at 92 mph, a few ticks below Newcomb’s customary fastball velocity, and Snitker was asked if the rookie might’ve been aimimg the pitch due to the command problems.
“Probably human nature if he is,” Snitker said. “But it’s just something that he’ll continue to work on. We’re going to continue running him out there. That stuff’s too good (for him not to succeed). I like watching him pitch. He competes really well and I know he’s not trying to do that. Just going to have to be a continual work in progress and they’ll get back after it in a couple of days on the side and try to rectify things.”
Newcomb got an assist from reliever Luke Jackson when he induced an inning-ending ground out from Yasiel Pugi in the fifth after Newcomb issued consecutive two-out walks and was replaced.
Still, the Braves trailed 3-1 at that point against a team that until Wednesday had a major league-record streak of 53 consecutive wins in games in which it led at any point. The Braves snapped that Dodgers streak with a 5-3 comeback win in the middle game of the series, but would’ve needed to do it two nights in a row to win this three-game and the season series with the juggernaut Dodgers.
They couldn't get the timely hits to pull it off again and the Dodgers clinched the series (2-1) and seven-game season series (4-3). The Dodgers are 21-3 since July 4, with all three losses coming against the Braves.
The Dodgers (76-32) have the best record in the majors including an astounding 41-7 mark since June 7. They are 14-3 against National League East teams other than the Braves.
Newcomb labored trying to throw strikes, piling up 110 pitches while recording 14 outs and falling to 0-4 with a 7.31 ERA in his past six starts. He lasted 5 1/3 innings or fewer in five of those six games despite throwing 96 or more pitches in each of the past five. He’s issued 22 walks in his past 25 innings.
The big left-hander had a 1.48 ERA, .202 opponents’ average and .557 opponents’ OPS in his first four major league starts, allowing 18 hits, eight walks, four earned runs and one homer with 21 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings while lasting at least six innings in each game.
In six starts since Newcomb has a .287 opponents’ average and plus-.900 opponents’ OPS, allowing 31 hits, 24 walks, 23 earned runs and five homers with 34 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. The strikeouts are up but so is everything else except innings. Most alarming is the spike in walks and homers, a flammable mix.
In two of his past four starts, he has needed 220 pitches to get through 10 total innings vs. the Cubs and Dodgers.
The Dodgers added four runs in the final four innings including three runs in two innings against reliever Jason Hursh.
The Braves also stranded two runners in the sixth when Sean Rodrigez struck out with runners on the corners, and they failed to score in the second inning after Rodriguez doubled with one out and Albies and Newcomb each grounded out.
They went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position to make them 15-for-73 (.205) in those situations over the past 11 games including nine losses.
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