DEJA VU: Braves take NLCS 3-1 lead over Dodgers

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LOS ANGELES – Eddie Rosario hit two home runs among his four hits and the Atlanta Braves moved one game away from their first place in the World Series since 1999 with a 9-2 victory Wednesday over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rosario finished a double off the cycle, while Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman added home runs as the Braves took a 3-1 lead in the NL Championship Series. Atlanta would close out the best-of-seven series with a Game 5 victory Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

The Braves also held a 3-1 lead in the NLCS over the Dodgers last season, but were unable to get one last win as Los Angeles advanced and ultimately won the World Series.

AJ Pollock had a two-run single for the Dodgers, who were hitless until the fifth inning.

Los Angeles starter Julio Urias (0-1) allowed three home runs in five innings, allowing five runs and eight hits. He walked two and struck out three. Urias also coughed up a Dodgers two-run lead in the eighth inning of Game 2 during a relief assignment.

Braves right-hander Huascar Ynoa was scheduled to start Wednesday’s bullpen game, but was removed from the roster due to a sore shoulder. Jesse Chavez started in his place and pitched a scoreless first inning.

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Drew Smyly (1-0) allowed two runs in 3 1/3 innings and was credited with the win. He was the second of six Braves pitchers to shut down Los Angeles.

Rosario and Duvall started the offense, hitting back-to-back home runs to open the second inning. It was the first time Atlanta had hit back-to-back long balls in a playoff game since Javy Lopez and Vinny Castilla in the 2002 National League Division Series.

Freeman made it 3-0 in the third inning with his home run to right center field. Joc Pederson again tormented his former team with an RBI single in the third, and Duvall gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead in the fifth with a sacrifice fly.

Pederson, who helped the Dodgers win the title last season, has five hits and four RBIs in the series.

Pollock’s two-run single in the fifth put the Dodgers 5-2, but unlike Game 3, Los Angeles couldn’t recover from the same deficit. Freeman’s RBI double in the ninth was followed by Rosario’s second home run to give him four RBIs.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner left after the seventh inning with an apparent left leg injury.

Reference-torontosun.com

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