Braves get Past Dodgers for 2-0 Lead

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have taken a two-games-to-none lead in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Freddie Freeman homered and had three RBIs as the Braves built a seven-run lead before holding off the Dodgers, 8-7. The Braves went ahead on Freeman’s two-run homer in the fourth, one inning before a four-run rally put them in control.

Dodgers emergency starter and loser Tony Gonsolin was sailing until Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the fourth with a walk and scored on Freeman’s second homer of the postseason. Gonsolin was charged with five runs on three hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.

Clayton Kershaw was supposed to start for L.A., but he was scratched due to back spasms. Manager Dave Roberts hopes to use his ace in Game 4.

Things got worse for the Dodgers in the fifth as Cristian Pache laced an RBI double and scored on Freeman’s single. Travis d’Arnaud followed with a bases-loaded walk against Pedro Baez, who also surrendered a sacrifice fly by Ozzie Albies. Cody Bellinger made a great catch to prevent Albies’ ball from clearing the bases.

Albies later belted a ninth-inning home run to make it 8-3. The round-tripper proved to be the winning margin after the Braves’ bullpen surrendered four runs in the ninth.

The Dodgers trailed 7-0 until Corey Seager blasted a three-run homer in the seventh. Seager also doubled home a ninth-inning run before Max Muncy’s two-run blast off Josh Tomlin got Los Angeles within 8-6.

Braves closer Mark Melancon entered to pick up the last out, but he surrendered an RBI triple by Cody Bellinger before retiring A.J. Pollock to end the game.

Braves starter Ian Anderson was lifted after throwing 85 pitches and allowing just one hit over four innings.

Tyler Matzek followed Anderson and worked two innings of shutout relief to pick up the win.

Game 3 is Wednesday, but the Braves will play the rest of the postseason without left fielder Adam Duvall. He was put on the injured list with an injury to his left side, the result of a swing during the second inning of Game 1.

Johan Camargo has replaced Duvall on the roster.