Justin Turner Has 4-Hit Night, Dodgers Squander Late Opportunities
Austin Barnes hit a one-out single in the fifth and went first to third on a grounder hit by pinch-hitter Alex Guerrero that had some English on it, rolling by Joey Terdoslavich and into right field. Pederson hit a more traditional chopper to Terdoslavich, which resulted in Barnes being thrown out at home plate.
Howie Kendrick extended the inning with a two-run double that cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 4-2. Adrian Gonzalez quickly added to Wisler’s troubles by tying the game with a two-run home run to right field. Turner chipped in with a double, his third hit of the game, but was stranded.
Adam Liberatore replaced Beachy in the bottom of the fifth and promptly gave up a leadoff double to Markakis. After being moved to third on a ground out, Markakis scored on Juan Uribe’s RBI single that got by a diving Rollins who was playing in. Liberatore retired the next two batters and the Braves held a 5-4 lead through five innings.
Wisler threw a shutdown inning in the sixth, retiring Rollins, Puig and Barnes in order. Joel Peralta took over in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff single to Simmons. Pedro Ciriaco pinch-hit and doubled to left field, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.
Petersen singled to right, easily scoring Simmons. Puig’s throw to home plate was too high for Gonzalez to cut off, though Barnes managed to throw out Petersen at second base. However, Barnes’ throw created a window of opportunity for Ciriaco to break for home and the Braves lead grew to 7-4.
With a steady rain falling at Turner Field, Juan Nicasio worked around a Terdoslavich one-out double to toss a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh. Andrew McKirahan entered in the eighth and gave up consecutive base hits to Gonzalez and Turner; with the single Turner improved to 4-for-4 on the night.
Scott Van Slyke pinch-hit for Ethier and snuck a single under Uribe’s glove, but Gonzalez was thrown out at the plate. After Puig flied to left on the first pitch he saw, Arodys Vizcaino allowed both runners to move into scoring position on a wild pitch. Rollins failed to capitalize as he flied out to end the inning.
Barnes led off the ninth with a single against Jim Johnson. Yasmani Grandal pinch-hit for Nicasio and poked a single into left, giving the Dodgers life. Pederson hit a chopper into right field and suddenly Johnson was in a bases-loaded jam with no outs.
Kendrick hit into a double play that scored a run and it would be as close as the Dodgers ultimately got as Gonzalez rolled a grounder over to first for the final out in a 7-5 loss.
[divide]Brandon Beachy Frustrated After Dodgers Debut
