LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy Pages had a walkoff single in the 11th inning for his fourth hit of the game and the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Friday night.
Gavin Stone pitched well and Teoscar Hernandez homered in a matchup of two of baseball’s best teams. Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for the Braves.
With Will Smith on second base in the 11th, Atlanta manager Brian Snitker intentionally walked Max Muncy. Teoscar Hernandez hit into a fielder’s choice and Pages, who battled Jesse Chavez (1-1) to a full count in an at-bat that lasted eight pitches.
“I was very happy to be able to do that,” Pages said through an interpreter. “My first career walkoff and just to be able to help the team win.”
Michael Grove (1-1) got the victory, retiring the side in the 11th. Orlando Arcia hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning for Atlanta to score Luke Williams from second.
The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the 10th. Shohei Ohtani singled to center field to score Chris Taylor from second. Ohtani was 1 for 2 with two walks and a stolen base, his seventh of the season.
Stone pitched six strong innings and allowed just one run. He struck out five and allowed five hits. The 25-year-old Stone, who made just eight appearances in his first year in the majors last season, is making strides in the Dodgers rotation, especially with Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May and Bobby Miller out with injuries.’
“Way different,” Stone said of his outing this year versus last year against the Braves. “I’m way more confident on the mound and way more confident in my pitches. Yeah, just way different.”
Charlie Morton allowed two earned runs in six innings, scattering five hits and striking out five. Riley homered in the first inning, a 449-foot solo shot to left, which was his third of the season and first since April 7.
Two batters before, Acuna, who has struggled offensively this season, singled to short center field but later got picked off second base. In trying to get back to second, he stumbled and then hobbled on his right foot back to the dugout but stayed in the game and homered in the eighth inning to tie it at 2. In the third inning, Smith hit a run-scoring single to score Ohtani to tie it. Teoscar Hernandez hit a go-ahead solo home run to right field in the fourth inning. It was Hernandez’s seventh home run of the season.
“Watching (Pages) play, watching him develop these couple of weeks since he’s been up here, he’s a great guy and he’s always asking how to get better,” Hernandez said. “Just trying to be a better player, even better. And today he showed it. He’s made for big moments. He’s not afraid to go out there and have success at any moment.”
In the second inning, Jarrad Kelenic made a great throw from left field, an absolute perfect dart to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, to get a sliding Pages out at home plate. Acuna could be turning a corner on his struggles, perhaps gaining momentum with that homer.
“He’s still doing OK. He’s adding a lot to what we’re doing,” Snitker said before the game. “He’s scoring a lot of runs and making plays. He got a few hits the other day. He’s going to be fine.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: C Sean Murphy (oblique strain) is starting to swing a bat and is doing catching drills, according to Snitker.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder) played catch with Walker Buehler Friday and threw his first bullpen since surgery six months ago … RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation) threw off the mound … RHP Walter Buehler (Tommy John surgery) will make his first start in almost two years on Monday against the Marlins.
UP NEXT
Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his third start of the season Saturday, opposing Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 2.72 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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