NLDS; Dodgers & Braves Take Openers

October 7, 2020 3:55 am

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers had a walk in the park to start the National League Division Series. The Dodgers had already drawn nine free passes before Mookie Betts got their first hit the sixth inning. They went ahead to stay on Corey Seager’s sacrifice fly right after that in a 5-1 win over the NL West rival San Diego Padres. Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Wednesday night. The Dodgers walked 10 times, matching the NLDS record for a nine-inning game. San Diego used nine pitchers for the third time in four postseason games.  Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves have taken the opener of their NL Division Series.  The Braves trailed 4-1 and 4-3 before erupting for six runs in the seventh inning of a 9-5 victory over the Miami Marlins. Travis d’Arnaud put Atlanta ahead with a three-run homer right after Marcell Ozuna tied the game with an RBI single. Dansby Swanson capped the rally with a two-run blast that put the Braves ahead, 9-4.  Ronald Acuna Jr. became the youngest player to lead off the first inning with a home run. But Miguel Rojas answered back with a solo blast before Garrett Cooper’s two-run double highlighted the Marlins’ three-run third.  Ozuna and d’Arnaud each provided run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the third to jumpstart the Braves.  The Marlins are without left fielder Starling Marte, who continues to recover from a broken hand suffered in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series with the Cubs.  Game 2 is Wednesday at Houston.