Joc Pederson powers Braves to 3-0 win over Brewers

Joc Pederson homered again in support of a good outing by Ian Anderson to help the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS.

The Braves threatened to break through in the second against Freddy Peralta. Austin Riley reached on an infield single and then moved up to second on a single by Adam Duvall. Riley moved over to third on a fly out by Eddie Rosario. Travis d’Arnaud followed and lifted a fly ball to Yelich in left who threw to second and nabbed Duvall who was trying to move up. The tag happened before Riley scored so the Braves inexplicably came away empty handed in the inning.

Despite the missed opportunity, Anderson continued to throw up zeroes. Anderson retired nine straight before Yelich singled in the with one out in the fourth. He moved into scoring position with a stolen base but Anderson struck out the side to leave him stranded.

Anderson ran into his first trouble in the fifth when he nicked Julio Urias in the hand with a pitch to begin the inning. Omar Narvaez followed with a double to left to put runners at second and third with no one out. The Braves pulled the infield in and Lorenzo Cain grounded sharply to Swanson at short who made a diving stop, looked the runners back and then threw to first for the out.

Craig Counsell then elected to pinch hit Daniel Vogelbach for Peralta who had allowed just three hits and thrown only 57 pitches. Vogelbach grounded to Riley who threw home to catch Urias in a rundown and eventually tagged him for the second out. Kolton Wong followed and lined a bullet right to Freddie Freeman at first to end the inning.

Adrian Houser took over for Peralta and the Braves immediately went to work. d’Arnaud and Swanson led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Brian Snitker then sent Joc Pederson to the plate who launched a 1-2 pitch into the ChopHouse for a three-run home run.

Atlanta needed a big time start from Anderson and he delivered allowing just three hits over five scoreless innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter while throwing 84 pitches.

Jesse Chavez worked a perfect sixth and then gave way to Tyler Matzek in the seventh. Eduardo Escobar began the inning with a long fly to left that Rosario misplayed into a double. Matzek then retired Urias on a ground out and pinch-hitter Manny Pina on a fly out. He then struck out Cain to leave the runner stranded.

Luke Jackson took over in the eighth and quickly found himself in a jam. Pinch-hitter Jace Peterson walked to begin the inning. Wong flew out for the first out but Willy Adames singled with Peterson going first to third on the play. That would bring Yelich to the plate who grounded back up the middle to Swanson who touched second and then threw on to first to complete the inning ending double play.

The Braves had a chance to add on another run in the eighth. Ozzie Albies led off the inning with a double to right. After Riley struck out, Albies moved to third on a wild pitch by pitcher Jake Cousins. Cousins broke Duvall’s bat on a grounder to Adames for the second out. Milwaukee intentionally walked Rosario before d’Arnaud flew out to end the inning.

Will Smith took over in the ninth. Avisail Garcia lined out to Riley at third on a leaping grab for the first out. Smith then struck out Escobar swinging for the second out. Smith then flew out to Urias in right for the final out.

Pederson is now 3-for-3 in the series with a pair of homers and four RBI. Duvall finished with two hits in the game and fortunately his base running mistake didn’t come back to haunt Atlanta. The Braves will try to close out the series in Game 4 will get underway at 5:07 p.m. ET Tuesday.