While the Dodgers are now back home, they were facing a tough opponent in the Braves with less than ideal pitching matchups. Surprisingly then, despite the Braves striking first, it was the Dodgers that fought back and took the lead against Chris Sale. The pen then showed their stuff the rest of the way, protecting that lead over 4.1 scoreless frames in a 3-1 win to start the series.
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Making it a trend this year, Emmet Sheehan started extremely impressive. He cruised through a clean 1st, then basically got unlucky in the 2nd. A lead-off single was followed by a strikeout, but then a groundball double down the line that barely bounced over the bag fair put a pair in scoring position. An Austin Riley single followed to make it 1-0 Braves, but back-to-back strikeouts killed off the rally.
Riley gets the scoring started!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/8NwSNDZsxd
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 9, 2026
Sheehan struck out a pair more in the 3rd in a clean frame, but the wheels started to come off in the 4th. A lead-off single was followed by another strikeout, but then Sheehan absolutely grooved a fastball that he got away with for a flyout, giving way to a hilarious reaction.
lol
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— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 8, 2026 at 5:15 PM
He didn’t get away with the next pitch, as Austin Riley doubled off the wall in left, but a relay cut the runner down at home. It was a lot closer than it looked and required an extensive replay review.
A relay saves a run and keeps the game tied, plus some replays. pic.twitter.com/WMIvQf6Ago
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 9, 2026
After a deep flyout started the 5th, a single and a walk followed, and following a groundout, Sheehan’s day was done.
It felt like he was playing with fire for at least the last two frames: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 88 Pitches.
I hate to say it, but the velo and effectiveness diminishing after like a couple innings makes Sheehan a rather ideal pen candidate right now.
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— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 8, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Out of the pen, Alex Vesia entered for Matt Olson, and he got him to flyout.
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Surprisingly, when Sheehan exited he had a lead despite his opposition being Chris Sale.
The bats started by getting retired on nine pitches in the 1st, but in the 2nd they got a one-out single from Teoscar Hernandez and that was followed by a Kyle Tucker double to tie things up at 1-1.
Kyle for the tie! pic.twitter.com/nVhXiL0pqS
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2026
They went down in order in the 3rd thanks to Santiago Espinal getting thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double, and then only got a two-out HBP in the 4th.
The Dodgers then got fortunate in the 5th, as a grounder to start from Miguel Rojas was thrown away for a two-base error. Sale was then Sale and got the next two, but Shohei Ohtani came through with a groundball single to right to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Shohei delivers! pic.twitter.com/ZSPf8AYQzq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2026
Amusingly, they added insurance behind Freddie Freeman breaking a 25-game homerless drought against Sale of all people, and his fourth made it 3-1 Dodgers.
Freddie channeling his Girl Dad power. pic.twitter.com/lRUmDt86ZM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2026
Sale pitched a quiet 7th, which was the end for him, and then Aaron Bummer got the top of the order in order in the 8th.
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Meanwhile, the Dodgers pen continued in the 6th with Kyle Hurt making his first leverage/trust tree appearance. He got unlucky to start, as a chopped grounder bounced high for an infield single, but he then hung an 0-2 slider for another single to put a pair on. However, he battled from there, inducing what looked like a double-play ball that got only one out, then getting a shallow flyball, and a strikeout to punctuate his outing.
Kyle Hurt trust tree outing. pic.twitter.com/VVOzAquiVH
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 9, 2026
In the 7th, it was Will Klein, who didn’t face much trouble but did issue a four-pitch walk. He had a question for himself after that.
Will Klein had a question for himself after a four-pitch walk. pic.twitter.com/4rNNSpl5UQ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 9, 2026
Also a question was Dave Roberts letting him go for a second inning again in leverage, and he was greeted with a single to start.
I realize Klein can pitch multiple innings, but trying to push him for two in leverage hasn’t worked this year.
— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) May 8, 2026 at 6:27 PM
That was it for Klein as Brock Stewart entered and got a flyout, but then issued a walk to put the tying run on base. Thankfully, a strikeout and groundout got him out of the jam and kept the advantage intact.
For the save in the 9th, it was Tanner Scott, who got the side on just nine pitches.
Horny. pic.twitter.com/oMAa34fU5L
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 9, 2026
Great way to start.
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Miguel Rojas bobblehead day.
All the love for the Rojas family on Miggy’s bobblehead night. ? pic.twitter.com/J0xooJCyiu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 9, 2026
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24-14, and that’s four of their last five.
The series continues tomorrow about an hour earlier due to the weekend at 3:10 PM HT/6:10 PM PT/9:10 PM ET. It’ll be Blake Snell making an earlier return than expected for his season debut against Spencer Strider.
