Chris Sale opened Game 3 of the National League Division Series with the kind of command that can quiet a lineup in a hurry, striking out each of the first six Dodgers he faced Tuesday night in Atlanta. When Los Angeles finally put a ball in play that threatened to change the inning, Mauricio Dubón made sure it did not get away.
The result
Sale became only the second Braves pitcher to collect his first six postseason outs by strikeout. Mike Hampton did it in Game 2 of the 2003 NLDS.
The Dodgers tested that start in the third. With a runner aboard and no outs, former Atlanta star Freddie Freeman sent a 101.3 mph drive toward the deepest part of left field. Dubón tracked it back to the wall and rose at the right moment, taking the ball away just in front of the visitors’ bullpen.
The catch denied what appeared headed for at least extra bases, and it may have taken a two-run homer off the board. Los Angeles still built a bases-loaded threat after Will Smith singled with two outs and Shohei Ohtani reached on catcher’s interference, but Sale finished the escape by getting Miguel Rojas to line out to right.
Freeman answered in his next trip to the plate. He drove a ball to right-center for his 18th career postseason home run, putting the Dodgers in front 3-0.
Game 4 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET, with FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One carrying the broadcast.
