The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading to their third straight National League Championship Series after a 4-1 series-clinching win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 on Wednesday. Andy Pages delivered the knockout blow with a two-run single in the seventh inning that broke open a pitchers' duel at Truist Park, and the Dodgers closed out the best-of-five set 3-1.
Pages, maligned for postseason struggles over the past two years, came through with four hits over the final two games of the series. Los Angeles' pitching staff surrendered just eight runs on 18 hits across the four games, with Edwin Díaz slamming the door in the ninth for his second save of the series.
The Braves' season ends with a familiar frustration: Atlanta finished the series 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position and has not advanced past the division series since winning the World Series in 2021. Starter Tyler Mahle was the tough-luck loser, charged with two runs over 6 1/3 strong innings.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres refused to go quietly, edging the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 to avoid elimination and pull the NLDS to 2-1. The Padres now head home with momentum — and the Dodgers await the winner in an NLCS that starts Sunday.
