Justin Turner Has 4-Hit Night, Dodgers Squander Late Opportunities
After taking the last two of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals, the Los Angeles Dodgers traveled to Atlanta to begin a three-game set at Turner Field.
The Dodgers went quietly in the first inning then Brandon Beachy took the mound to face his former team. Cameron Maybin hit a one-out single, which was followed by Nick Markakis giving the Braves an early lead with a two-run home run to straightaway center. Juan Uribe drew a two-out walk before Beachy managed to get out of the inning.
The second inning started on the right foot for the Dodgers behind a Justin Turner single to center. However, fly outs from Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, and Jimmy Rollins ended the inning with the Dodgers still trailing 2-0. Beachy did better in the second inning, working around an Andrelton Simmons one-out base hit.
Matt Wisler continued to blank the Dodgers as he retired the side without issue in the third inning. Joc Pederson and Puig narrowly avoided a collision in right-center field on a line drive that the rookie center field snagged for the first out. Beachy struck out Markakis looking and got A.J. Pierzynski to fly out, ending the inning with the Braves still ahead 2-0.
Justin Turner and Ethier managed back-to-back singles with two outs in the fourth, but Puig grounded out and the Dodgers remained scoreless. After getting two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, Beachy allowed a double to Eury Perez and came undone.
Simmons was intentionally walked, which backfired as Beachy struggled to find the zone and walked Wisler to load the bases. Jace Peterson found the left-field line chalk on the first pitch of his at-bat, extending the Braves’ lead to 4-0 with a two-run double.
CONTINUE READING: Justin Turner Goes 4-for-4, Dodgers Squander Opportunities In 8th And 9th
