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Los Angeles Times

Sport

Jorge Castillo

Dodgers have tables turned in stunning NLCS Game 4 blowout loss to the Braves

The Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna reacts after scoring a run on a double by Freddie Freeman against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. The Braves won, 10-2, for a 3-1 series lead. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

ARLINGTON, Texas _ The pitching matchup, all eyes and computers agreed, was one of the biggest mismatches possible this deep into October.

On one side, the Los Angeles Dodgers had Clayton Kershaw, a future Hall of Famer, making his 28th postseason start in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. On the other, Bryse Wilson, a 22-year-old rookie with a career ERA approaching a touchdown, was making his playoff debut for the Atlanta Braves.

The Dodgers' superior pitching depth was supposed to shine for the second consecutive night. The Braves were supposed to take a few rough hours and move on. Instead, Wilson dominated over six innings, Kershaw's gas tank emptied in another forgettable postseason performance, and the bullpen combusted in the Dodgers' 10-2 loss at a windy Globe Life Field on Thursday.

The Atlanta Braves' Cristian Pache, left, and Johan Camargo celebrate in the dugout after teammate Marcell Ozuna hit a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. The Braves won, 10-2, for a 3-1 series lead. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the Dodgers, owners of the regular season's best record, are facing a 3-1 series deficit. They must win three games in three days to keep their World Series hopes alive. Game 5 is scheduled for Friday at 6:08 p.m. PDT.

"We've won three games in a row plenty of times during the regular season," Dodgers designated hitter Edwin Rios said. "We can do it again."

Wilson was the third straight rookie to start for the Braves. They went with him because they didn't have any other options and were prepared for a bullpen game. Wilson smashed those expectations.

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, right, greets manager Brian Snitker after a 10-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. The Braves now hold a 3-1 series lead. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

A night after bludgeoning Kyle Wright, another right-handed rookie, and scoring a record 11 runs in the first inning, the Dodgers' aggressiveness worked against them Thursday. Wilson, relying on a fastball in the mid-90s, threw only 74 pitches. He gave up one hit _ a solo home run by Rios in the third inning _ to become the third-youngest pitcher to log at least six innings and yield no more than one hit in a playoff game. Four Braves relievers followed to give up one run over the final three innings.

"He did a nice job of working outside and inside part of the plate to LH and RH hitters," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Wilson, "and we couldn't square him up consistently enough."

Kershaw was originally scheduled to start Game 2 on Tuesday, but he was scratched because of back spasms. Two days later, he kept the Braves off the board until Marcell Ozuna crushed the first of his two home runs in the fourth inning. Atlanta barreled other balls but most found Dodgers fielders. Kershaw's fortune expired in the sixth.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner dives but can't reach a sixth-inning RBI double by the Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Ronald Acuna Jr. led off with an infield hit and took second on Kike Hernandez's throwing error. Freddie Freeman then hit a ground ball through the right side that went to the right-field wall for an RBI double to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

By then, right-hander Brusdar Graterol, one of the Dodgers' few trusted high-leverage relievers, was warming in the bullpen. Ozuna, a right-handed hitting behemoth, was up next. His previous first two at-bats _ a hard-hit ground ball and the home run _ suggested he had figured out Kershaw. But Roberts, encouraged by Kershaw's clean fifth inning and the less-than-hard contact he induced from the first two batters, let Kershaw face Ozuna a third time.

"I felt good with Clayton right there," Roberts said. "I really did. I didn't feel need to go to the 'pen right there."

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw talks with the home plate umpire after the first inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Moments later, Ozuna clobbered an RBI double for the second of his four hits to prompt Kershaw's exit.

"I made a few mistakes to him and maybe some other guys did too," Kershaw said, "and he didn't miss."

Graterol replaced Kershaw and flopped. Ozzie Albies singled. Dansby Swanson whacked a two-run double. Finally, Austin Riley delivered an RBI single to give Atlanta a six-run edge and force Graterol's exit.

The Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson hits a two-run double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. The Braves won, 10-2, for a 3-1 series lead. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Kershaw was ultimately charged with four runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Graterol, who hadn't allowed an inherited runner to score before Thursday, was charged with three runs in one-third of an inning.

"They were just finding holes and we couldn't find a way to limit damage," Roberts said.

The temperature dropped and Globe Life Field became a wind tunnel when the roof was opened 45 minutes before first pitch. Gusts fluctuated between six and 15 mph, blowing in from right field, at first pitch. Uniforms flapped. Hair fluttered. Dirt whipped into players' eyes.

The Atlanta Braves' Cristian Pache bunts the ball foul against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

The decision on the roof's status falls on Major League Baseball in the postseason. The league decided it would keep the ballpark topless for every playoff game unless rain was in the forecast, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The problem was nobody _ not even the building's architects _ knew how the ballpark would handle strong wind. The elements were unprecedented for Globe Life Field, a $1.2-billion building that opened this year. This, essentially, was a trial by error.

"If you have a roof I don't know why (you wouldn't) close it," Kershaw said.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Bryse Wilson throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS)

Rios had no problem with the elements in his first at-bat when he swatted a solo home run to right field _ straight through the wind _ in the third inning for the game's first run.

But the wind cost Los Angeles in the fourth inning on Joc Pederson's 411-foot flyout and again in the seventh inning when it swallowed AJ Pollock's long fly ball to right field.

The Dodgers threatened for more in the seventh by loading the bases twice but mustered just one more run on Rios' sacrifice fly and didn't score again.

The Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies slides in safely to score on a sixth-inning double by Dansby Swanson as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes takes the throw from left field in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

They've scored only two runs in 15 innings since a record 15-run outburst in Game 2's first three innings. Now they're facing elimination and another long winter without a championship.