Big start ends it
Record 11 runs in 1st propel Dodgers to blowout win in NLCS
ARLINGTON, Texas — Max Muncy’s grand slam capped a record-setting 11-run first inning for the Dodgers, who coasted to a 15-3 rout of the Braves on Wednesday night that cut their National League Championship Series deficit to 2-1.
The slam by Muncy off Grant Dayton was the third homer in the first, the highest-scoring inning in a major league postseason game. It was among a franchise-record five homers for the Dodgers, who set a team record for postseason runs.
Joc Pederson hit a three-run homer off starter Kyle Wright to start his four-hit night, and Edwin Rios went deep on next pitch. Corey Seager had a pair of RBI hits in the opening outburst, then added a solo homer in the third as the Dodgers built a 15-0 lead — the first team with that many runs in the first three innings of a postseason game.
Winner Julio Urias, with three wins in three appearances this postseason though making his first start, struck out five while allowing one run on three hits over five innings. He walked the first two batters, but no more.
The Braves’ miserable start was eerily similar to last October’s Game 5 of the Division Series against the Cardinals, when they gave up a 10-run first inning at home in a season-ending start by Mike Foltynewicz.
Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw likely will start in Game 4 for the Dodgers, two nights after he was scratched because of back spasms. Bryse Wilson makes his postseason debut as the third rookie right-handed starter for the Braves in this series in what will be his first appearance since the final day of the regular season on Sept. 27.
The Dodgers had left the tying run at third base after a four-run bottom of the ninth in what was an 8-7 loss in Game 2 on Tuesday night. They were the visiting team in Game 3, and sent 14 batters to the plate for seven hits, three walks and a hit batter over 32 minutes in the first inning.
Those 15 runs over two at-bats came after the Braves, with all of their young starters, had allowed only nine runs in their previous six games plus eight innings, a stretch that included four shutouts while winning their first seven games this postseason.
Reigning NL MVP Cody Bellinger walked and scored in the first, led off the second with a homer and added an RBI single in the third. His long ball came right after his running, leaping catch at the center-field wall to rob Ozzie Albies with two on to end the Braves’ first.
Wright gave up seven runs while facing only nine batters. He had had thrown six scoreless innings in the Game 3 NL Division Series clincher over the Marlins.
Mookie Betts had an infield single on the first pitch of the game, though he was initially called out before a replay challenge overturned the call by umpire Dan Iassogna. Seager drove Betts home with a double on the next pitch before groundouts by Justin Turner and Muncy.
Nine consecutive batters reached with two outs. Will Smith had an RBI double and Bellinger walked before the homers by Pederson and Rios. After No. 9 batter Chris Taylor walked, Dayton walked Betts, gave up the the RBI single to Seager and hit Turner on the foot before Muncy’s 435-foot slam to right-center.
Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers’ primary closer since 2012 and career leader with 312 saves, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth.