Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered the start of his postseason life on Tuesday night, striking out a career playoff-high 10 over seven innings of one-run ball as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park.
The Dodgers broke through in the fourth inning, when Kike Hernandez and Freddie Freeman homered off Chris Sale in a three-run frame that decided the game. Sale, pushed back from Game 2 after pitching on short rest in the wild-card round, took the loss despite another strong outing.
Edwin Diaz nailed down the ninth inning to seal a 2-1 series lead for the defending World Series champions, who can clinch a third straight trip to the NL Championship Series with a win in Wednesday's Game 4. The projected pitching matchup: Tyler Glasnow for Los Angeles against Tyler Mahle for Atlanta.
For the Braves, the task is now stark: win two straight at home or watch their season end. Atlanta's offence managed just one run against Yamamoto and went quiet with runners on base - a familiar October story the Dodgers will happily extend one more night.
