Ryu, L.A. home runs shut down Atlanta

LOS ANGELES» HyunJin Ryu pitched seven dominant innings, Max Muncy hit an early, threerun homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 60 in their NL Division Series opener on Thursday night.

Picked a surprising Game 1 starter over fellow lefty Clayton Kershaw, Ryu delivered in his first postseason start since 2014. The South Korean allowed four singles — all with two outs — struck out eight and walked none.

The 31yearold Ryu missed 3 ½ months of the season with a groin strain and returned Aug. 15 to post a 1.88 ERA in 52 M innings. Dodgers great Sandy Koufax was among those who gave Ryu a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout after his final pitch.

The Dodgers set franchise and National League records by hitting 235 homers during the regular season, and their tear continued with three more to begin their playoffs. The defending NL champions actually were outhit 65 by Atlanta, but the Braves only got singles.

Game 2 in the bestoffive matchup is Friday at Dodger Stadium, with Kershaw starting for Los Angeles against Anibal Sanchez.

The Braves have lost eight straight series openers in the postseason. They haven’t won a Game 1 since 2001 when they went on to sweep Houston in the NLDS.

Rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out twice and went 0 for 4 as the Baby Braves were blanked. This was Atlanta’s first playoff appear ance since 2013, when they lost to the Dodgers in four games.

Joc Pederson’s leading shot in the bottom of the first rattled Mike Foltynewicz in his postseason debut. Foltynewicz gave up four runs and three hits in two innings. The righthander struck out five and walked two.

Ryu allowed a twoout single to Freddie Freeman in the first.

After that, he retired 12 consecutive batters before a pair of twoout singles to Ender Inciarte and former Dodger Charlie Culberson in the fifth. Puig charged in on pinchhitter Kurt Suzuki’s fly to right field to end the inning. The Braves didn’t advance a runner past second base in the game.