Braves use homers, bullpen to beat Ryu
ATLANTA (AP) — Josh Donaldson and Adam Duvall hit consecutive homers off Ryu Hyun-jin in the sixth inning, the faulty Atlanta bullpen redeemed itself for a change, and the Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 on Saturday night.
Donaldson stirred the largest crowd in SunTrust Park’s three-year history when his 29th homer landed in the Atlanta bullpen in right-center. Duvall added on by going deep into the left-center seats to make it 4-2.
Atlanta won the matchup of NL division leaders one night after the Dodgers’ powerful offense homered four times, sending the Braves to a 27th loss in the last 37 regular-season games between the teams. With their first win in five meetings this season, the Braves are trying to stand up to the club that eliminated them from the playoffs last year.
Ryu (12-3) lost for the first time in seven starts as his ERA, still best in the major leagues, rose 19 points to 1.64.
Sean Newcomb (6-3) turned in a promising performance after allowing consecutive homers the night before that left him with a 13.49 ERA in his last eight outings. He bailed out starter Mike Foltynewicz in the fifth, getting Edwin Rios to fly out with runners at the corners.
Newcomb faced the minimum in 1 1/3 innings. Luke Jackson, who lost the closer’s job last month, allowed Max Muncy’s 31st homer before stranding a runner he walked in the seventh. Shane Greene, another former closer, struck out the side in the eighth. Mark Melancon earned his second save in two chances when Cody Bellinger popped up with a runner at first to end it.
Atlanta’s bullpen has been battered over the last two weeks with Greene, Melancon and Chris Martin — all acquired at the trade deadline to steady the relief corps — beginning the game with a combined 10.47 ERA in seven appearances apiece.
The Braves led 2-0 in the third on Ozzie Albies’ two-run double. Ryu, who had a streak of 15 scoreless innings snapped, struck out Donaldson to strand Albies at third.
Matt Beaty provided Los Angeles’ early offense, hitting his seventh homer to make it 2-1 in the fourth and lining a run-scoring single to make it 2-all in the fifth and chase Foltynewicz.
Dodgers’ Urias to serve 20-game penalty
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias has accepted a 20-game suspension by Major League Baseball for a domestic violence incident and is expected to return in September.
MLB gave him credit for serving five games while he was on administrative leave in May, leaving 15 remaining to serve without pay.
The commissioner’s office said Saturday that Urias has agreed not to appeal the discipline and will participate in an evaluation and treatment program.
The Dodgers said in a statement that they support MLB’s decision while also being encouraged that Urias took responsibility for his actions. The team said it believes he will learn from the incident.
Club president and CEO Stan Kasten told reporters before Saturday’s game in Atlanta that Urias is allowed to work out at the team’s spring training facility in Arizona and can pitch in a minor league game as early as Aug. 27.
Urias can return to the majors on Sept. 2 and is eligible for the postseason. The two-time defending NL champion Dodgers lead the NL West by 19 games.
Manager Dave Roberts added that Urias addressed the team earlier this year, so Roberts decided not to bring up the issue again in front of the team this weekend.
“It’s disappointing, but obviously we’re adhering to what the commissioner’s office and the players association implemented,” Roberts said. “We’re just trying to stay the course.”
The 23-year-old reliever from Mexico was arrested in May and accused of shoving a woman. The charges were ultimately dropped, but MLB pursued its own punishment under the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.