Atlanta dropped the first game of the NLDS on Thursday night, 6-0.
Mike Foltynewicz’s first playoff start did not go as planned. At two innings, it was the shortest start of his entire career. He allowed 4 runs - all via the home run ball - while allowing 3 hits, walking 3, and striking out 5.
His mound mate Hyun-Jin Ryu looked the part of a Game 1 starter, throwing 7 dazzling innings and only allowing 4 hits. He struck out 8 and did not walk a batter. Ryu and the Dodgers bullpen kept the Braves’ bats at bay all night, as each Braves hit was a single.
Folty was his own worst enemy during his short outing, as his jitters prevented him from harnessing the bulldog mentality he showed all season. The tone for his night was set early, as Joc Pederson hit a leadoff home run. Before the first inning was over, Folty had loaded the bases but managed to strike out Yasiel Puig to keep the damage at 1-0.
After getting off to a good start in the second inning, Folty hit Pederson on an 0-2 count and walked Justin Turner. Max Muncy then blasted a three-run home run to put the Dodgers up 4-0. Folty has done a lot of work on his body language this season, but walking off the field it was obvious he was shell shocked.
Sean Newcomb kept things manageable over his two innings of relief work, only allowing one hit while striking out two. Max Fried followed Newcomb, and worked solid 1 ⅓ innings of his own, walking one but keeping it scoreless. As he tends to do, he threw a couple of beautiful curveballs.
Brad Brach’s outing wasn’t pretty, as he allowed a home run to Kike Hernandez to stake L.A. to a 5-0 lead, then the following inning walked two batters before being lifted for Jonny Venters. Chad Sobotka’s night wasn’t much to write home about either, as he also walked two and committed a throwing error that allowed an unearned run to come around to score in the 8th, making it 6-0.
The good news is, even though this was a thorough pounding by the Dodgers, it still only counts as one game in the series. The Braves do have a hole to crawl out of, but they have the opportunity to tie the series tomorrow. Anibal Sanchez will get the start against Clayton Kershaw.
First pitch is scheduled for 9:37 pm ET.