Mookie Betts hit a key RBI single with two outs during a seven-run ninth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Atlanta Braves 9-2 on Sunday night.
With this loss, the Braves fell into a tie with the Mets for the third wild-card spot in the National League with 13 games remaining.
The Dodgers now have a two-game lead over the Brewers for the National League’s No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the playoffs. They are ahead of the Padres by four games in the N.L. West.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “I don’t want to say it was the biggest win of the year, but it felt big considering what we’ve been going through.” His team had lost six of nine games before Sunday.
Shohei Ohtani went 2 for 4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. However, he did not hit a home run or steal a base in his bid to achieve MLB’s first 50-50 season. He currently has 47 home runs and 48 stolen bases.
Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy each hit consecutive home runs during the ninth inning rally, which began against Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (5-2). Iglesias had not given up an earned run in 35 1/3 innings before this game but allowed the first five runs of the inning, all with two outs.
The Braves chose to intentionally walk Ohtani with two outs in the ninth and a runner on third with the score tied at 2-2, putting the game in Betts’ hands.
Betts said, “I wouldn’t pitch to him, either. Fortunately, I was able to come through.”
Roberts mentioned that there are probably two players he would walk to face Betts. “One plays in New York,” he said, referring to Aaron Judge. “And the other is in our clubhouse.”
Freddie Freeman added a two-run single after Betts’ go-ahead hit, before the home runs.
Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech (6-8) got the win after getting out of a two-on, no-out situation in the eighth inning by making Travis d’Arnaud fly out and striking out Orlando Arcia and Jarred Kelenic.
