Michael Harris II supplies the difference as Braves edge Dodgers 3-2

Atlanta built its margin a little at a time

The game was tight on the scoreboard and nearly even in the hit column, but Atlanta created more traffic. Both clubs finished with six hits and neither committed an error. The difference was how often the Braves extended innings: eight walks, one hit batter and 182 pitches forced from Dodgers pitching in 41 plate appearances.

Atlanta struck first in the opening inning when Mauricio Dubón reached on an infield single to shortstop, bringing home Ronald Acuna Jr. while Ozzie Albies advanced to second and Matt Olson to third. It was not a loud start, but it was an early example of the Braves finding value without a home run.

Los Angeles answered in the fourth when Freddie Freeman drove a solo shot to right to tie the game 1-1. The equalizer did not hold for long. In the fifth, Atlanta pushed back in front when Harris came home on a wild pitch from Kris Bubic, turning another extended Braves inning into a 2-1 lead.

Harris and the bullpen gave Atlanta enough

Harris returned with the biggest swing of the night in the seventh. After Olson came around to score, Harris doubled to right for a 3-1 lead, supplying Atlanta's only extra-base hit with a runner crossing the plate. In a game where every run mattered, that insurance held up as the separating blow.

The Dodgers' offence was almost entirely built on power. Freeman's solo homer in the fourth and Max Muncy's solo homer in the ninth accounted for both Los Angeles runs. Outside those two swings, the Dodgers managed four other hits, drew three walks and struck out nine times. Betts reached twice on walks, and Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Miguel Rojas each added a hit, but the lineup never pieced together a longer scoring inning.

Atlanta's pitching plan was similarly pieced together and mostly effective. Ray Kerr opened with 2 2/3 scoreless innings and four strikeouts. Grant Holmes was charged with Freeman's homer, Dylan Lee and Robert Suarez contributed scoreless middle relief, and Didier Fuentes handled the heaviest later stretch with 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball. Raisel Iglesias covered the last out after Muncy cut the deficit to one.

Our take

For Atlanta, this was a useful lesson in persistence. The Braves hit only .194 and did not leave the yard, but they still scored three times because they accepted walks, kept counts moving and got a standout night from Harris. His three hits, two runs and seventh-inning double gave structure to an offence that otherwise had to manufacture almost everything.

For Los Angeles, the cleanest explanation sits with the free bases. Blake Snell allowed just one run in 3 2/3 innings, but his five walks pushed him to 90 pitches and kept Atlanta in control of the pace. The bullpen added three more walks and the wild pitch that became the go-ahead run. In a one-run game, that loss of command mattered as much as any single hit.

The Dodgers also did not get enough traffic around their power. Freeman finished 2-for-4, Muncy supplied the late jolt and Betts reached base twice, yet the club's .250 on-base percentage left too few chances to turn those moments into a bigger inning. Atlanta was not explosive, but it was a little more relentless, and that was enough to leave Dodger Stadium with a 3-2 win.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Inning

   Dubón reached on infield single to shortstop, Acuña Jr. scored, Albies to second, Olson to third.

2. 4th Inning

   Freeman homered to right (375 feet).

3. 5th Inning

   Harris II scored on Bubic wild pitch.

4. 5th Inning

   Harris II scored on Bubic wild pitch.

5. 7th Inning

   Harris II doubled to right, Olson scored.

6. 9th Inning

   Muncy homered to right center (397 feet).