Dodgers’ Early Power Holds Off Braves in 3–1 Postseason Victory

The Los Angeles Dodgers leaned on a pair of fourth-inning homers to build a lead that the Atlanta Braves were unable to overcome in a 3–1 victory on October 6, 2026. Enrique Hernandez’s two-run drive set the tone, followed immediately by Freddie Freeman’s solo shot, giving the Dodgers a three-run cushion early in the game.

Freeman’s homer was his sole hit in four at-bats, but it accounted for an important RBI that extended the Dodgers’ lead. Hernandez’s 406-foot blast to left field drove in Andy Pages and put Los Angeles ahead 2–0. Those power displays contrasted with the Braves’ limited production at the plate.

Chris Sale pitched five innings for Atlanta, striking out seven but surrendering seven hits and three runs, including the two homers. Despite not issuing a walk, Sale’s line reflects the challenge he faced in containing the Dodgers’ power hitters during that critical fourth inning.

On the other side, Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered seven innings allowing just one run on four hits while striking out ten, a performance that helped contain the Braves’ offense. Atlanta’s only run came in the fifth inning when Drake Baldwin grounded out to first, scoring Mauricio Dubón.

The Braves managed only scattered hits from Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Lane Thomas, but their offense could not match the Dodgers’ timely power. Los Angeles combined those early big hits with effective pitching to maintain control through the late innings.

This game highlighted a clear contrast: the Dodgers capitalized on power opportunities that set the game’s tone, while the Braves’ pitching and timely hitting fell short of bridging that gap. The sequence of Hernandez and Freeman’s homers remains the defining moment that shaped the outcome.