The Atlanta Braves jumped out to an early lead but then needed to hang on at the end for an 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 2-0 lead in the NLCS. Atlanta held the Dodgers in check when again before things got a little sideways at the end. The series isnt over by any methods however the Braves have to feel respectable about where they currently sit. Here are three thoughts from Game 2 as we get ready for the series to continue Wednesday.
Ian Anderson wasnt sharp but fought for four innings
Giving the uncertainty with their rotation, it felt like the Braves probably needed to win every game begun by Max Fried and Ian Anderson to have an opportunity. Anderson wasnt as sharp as we have seen him however he was able to pitch out of trouble and keep the Dodgers scoreless over 4 innings. That extended Andersons postseason streak for successive scoreless innings to 15 2/3 which is the fourth longest streak in Braves postseason history tracking just Lew Burdette, Tom Glavine and Steve Avery.
Ian Anderson has actually thrown 15 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings so far this postseason
Thats the 4th-longest scoreless innings streak in Braves postseason history, behind just:
1957 Lew Burdette: 24 IP1995-96 Tom Glavine: 18 IP1991 Steve Avery: 16 1/3 IP
( h/t @EliasSports)– Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 14, 2020
Freddie Freeman homers once again, gets struck on the elbow
Freddie Freeman homered for the 2nd straight video game and got the Braves offense began. After an MVP quality routine season, Freeman is starting to warm up once again. He completed the video game 2-for-3 and drove in three runs including his two-run shot in the 4th inning. When Freeman was struck on the elbow by a pitch from former colleague Alex Wood, the Braves did get a scare in the 8th. Brian Snitker told reporters after the video game that Freeman was great however that it stung him and he lost sensation for a bit. That was the same elbow that Freeman had offseason surgical treatment on.
Braves #MixItUp in the 5th
The Dodgers have a potent offending lineup but you got to see simply how deep Atlantas can enter the fifth inning. The rally started when Tony Gonsolin strolled Nick Markakis after a 10-pitch at-bat with one out. Cristian Pache followed with a double that made the rating 3-0. Gonsolin would exit after a walk to Acuña however the Braves continued to pour it on. A single by Freeman, 2 more strolls and a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies extended the result in 6-0.
Atlanta took a boom or bust method through the first two rounds of the playoffs and put up some huge strikeout overalls. The Braves did strike out 12 times in Game 2 but tallied seven walks.
Bullpen derby at the end a result of no off days
Atlanta developed a big early lead and Brian Snitker tried to remain away from his big weapons in the bullpen. After Albies extended the lead to 8-3 with a home run, Snitker attempted to get away with having Josh Tomlin close out the game.
The Atlanta Braves jumped out to an early lead but then had to hold on at the end for an 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 2-0 lead in the NLCS. The series isnt over by any methods but the Braves have to feel quite excellent about where they currently sit. Freddie Freeman homered for the second straight video game and got the Braves offense began. The Braves did get a scare in the 8th when Freeman was hit on the elbow by a pitch from previous colleague Alex Wood. Both the Braves and the Dodgers are going to have to find an off day for their reducers at some point in the series.
You will no doubt checked out a lot about how the Dodgers will carry some momentum into Game 3 due to their late rally however that in part was a by-product of a series with no off days. Both the Braves and the Dodgers are going to have to discover an off day for their reducers at some time in the series. Atlanta was able to conserve Will Smith in Game 2 however Chris Martin might not be offered Wednesday after two straight appearances. Atlantas deep bullpen has actually served it well but that depth is going to get put to the test in this series.
