 lost for the first time in seven starts as his ERA, still best in the major leagues, rose 19 points to 1.64.Sean Newcomb (6-3) turned in a promising performance after allowing consecutive homers the night before that left him with a 13.49 ERA in his last eight outings. He bailed out starter Mike Foltynewicz in the fifth, getting Edwin Rios to fly out with runners at the corners.Newcomb faced the minimum in 1 1/3 innings. Luke Jackson, who lost the closer's job last month, allowed Max Muncy's 31st homer before stranding a runner he walked in the seventh. Shane Greene, another former closer, struck out the side in the eighth. Mark Melancon earned his second save in two chances when Cody Bellinger popped up with a runner at first to end it.Atlanta's bullpen has been battered over the last two weeks with Greene, Melancon and Chris Martin - all acquired at the trade deadline to steady the relief corps - beginning the game with a combined 10.47 ERA in seven appearances apiece.The Braves led 2-0 in the third on Ozzie Albies' two-run double. Ryu, who had a streak of 15 scoreless innings snapped, struck out Donaldson to strand Albies at third.Matt Beaty provided Los Angeles' early offense, hitting his seventh homer to make it 2-1 in the fourth and lining a run-scoring single to make it 2-all in the fifth and chase Foltynewicz.Foltynewicz labored through 4 2/3 innings on 107 pitches. He gave up seven hits and two runs.TRAINER'S ROOMDodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said INF Jedd Gyorko will be activated Sunday and start at first base. Gyorko has dealt with back, hamstring and hand injuries this year and was on the 60-day injured list when Los Angeles acquired him from St. Louis at the July 31 trade deadline.Braves: CF Ender Inciarte will miss four to six weeks after straining his right hamstring while running the bases Friday. Duvall, optioned to Triple-A the day before, replaced Inciarte on the roster.GOING DEEP AGAINWith two more homers, the Dodgers have connected 24 times over the last six games. Los Angeles leads the NL in home runs and set a major league record Friday with 22 in a five-game span.SLICK GLOVESBraves 1B Freddie Freeman snared Muncy's liner in the first to double up Joc Pederson, who had reached on second baseman Albies' fielding error. ... Atlanta CF Ronald Acuna Jr. ran forward to make a diving catch and rob Corey Seager of a bases-loaded hit in the third. ... Bellinger made a difficult running grab to save a run on Acuna's lineout to center in the seventh.BIG GATHERINGThe Braves announced a sellout of 43,619.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Tony Gonsolin (1-1, 3.21 ERA) arrived Saturday from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will make his third career start in the series finale.Braves: LHP Max Fried (14-4, 3.89 ERA) will try to win his sixth straight start. He has a 1.95 ERA over his last five. In two career starts against Los Angeles, Fried is 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Dodgers' Ryu will challenge Braves' battersFLMOpposing pitchers have had trouble silencing the Atlanta offense most of the season. The Braves have been shut out only three times, but on Saturday night, they face Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, one of the guys who blanked them earlier this season.Ryu (12-2, 1.45 ERA) will get the start in the second game of a three-game series in Atlanta. Resurgent right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (4-5, 6.24) will be on the mound for the Braves.The Dodgers won the opener 8-3 on Friday and set a major league record by hitting four home runs in their fifth straight game. They improved to 4-0 against Atlanta this season.Ryu blanked the Braves 9-0 on May 7 at Dodger Stadium. He went the distance while allowing only four hits and striking out six without a walk. In four career starts against Atlanta, Ryu is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA, holding batters to a .207 average.Ryu spent 10 days on the injured list earlier this month with neck soreness, but he showed no ill effects when he made his return on Sunday. Against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ryu threw seven scoreless innings and allowed five hits, striking out four, in the 9-3 Los Angeles win. That effort allowed Ryu to lower his major-league-leading 1.45 ERA."He can pitch to all four quadrants, his command has been great all year," third baseman Justin Turner said afterward. "Vintage Ryu. Changing speeds, keeping guys off-balance. He's like Houdini when he gets in trouble. He finds a way out of it." Foltynewicz will be making his fourth career start against the Dodgers. He is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA, striking out 15 in 17 1/3 innings. He lost to the Dodgers earlier this season, allowing five runs in six innings.The 2018 All-Star selection has made two starts since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, going 2-0 with road wins against Minnesota and Miami. He allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Twins in his return on Aug. 6 and gave up four runs in six innings against the Marlins on Sunday. Foltynewicz struck out seven in both games.Getting through the sixth inning may have been a big step for Foltynewicz. He was allowed to remain in the game against Miami, even though Atlanta manager Brian Snitker came out to have a conversation when the Marlins had two runners reach base."When a manager comes out and says, 'How you feeing? I trust in you and you've got a good matchup right here,' it just picked me up instantly," Foltynewicz said. "I don't know what came over me then, but when Snit said he was going to stick with me, saying, 'Get these guys out. I like the matchup,' I knew I was going to get the outs no matter what. It means the world." Atlanta may need to make a roster move before the game. Center fielder Ender Inciarte, a three-time Gold Glove winner, hurt his right hamstring strain Friday when rounding third base. Inciarte was hitting .318 over his last 19 games. It further thins the Atlanta outfield, which lost Nick Markakis to a fractured left wrist in late July and Austin Riley to a right knee sprain in early August.--Field Level Media
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