LOS ANGELES, October 6, 2026 – High-pressure baseball in Chavez Ravine is something that almost never lacks, and last Sunday night proved to be no different. With an offensive surge by Michael Harris II and an impressive outing by an ad hoc bullpen, the Atlanta Braves managed to edge past the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. This brings the best-of-five series to 1-1 as it moves further south.
Last Sunday night got rough on Los Angeles pitcher Blake Snell right from the get-go. The experienced left-hander had to throw 27 pitches just to survive the first inning, during which he gave up an early run as a result of an infield single by Mauricio Dubón. Snell struggled for 3.2 innings, throwing 90 pitches and walking five batters.
For the home fans, Freddie Freeman delivered an injection of energy in the fourth when he sent a line drive home run over the fence in right field off Grant Holmes, and the score was tied 1-1.
However, the bats continued to swing from Atlanta’s lineup. Harris, who fell a home run short of the cycle, took charge of crucial moments in the game. After smashing a two-out triple in the fifth inning, he scored on a wild pitch by Kris Bubic.
“Michael had a great game,” Braves bench coach Walt Weiss observed after the win. “There’s no blueprint in the postseason.”
Harris hit another one in the seventh inning when he hit an insurance double to right-centre field to drive in Matt Olson. Throughout all four plate appearances, he consistently punished early-count mistake pitches.
Dodgers tried to stage a comeback in the ninth inning. Max Muncy hit a solo homer to reduce the deficit to one run for LA in the bottom of the ninth against Didier Fuentes. Raisel Iglesias had to come in and end the game for Atlanta by getting Josue De Paula to pop out to Austin Riley in foul territory. Atlanta’s relief corps simply didn’t let LA’s heavy hitters get comfortable down the stretch.
The Dodgers were unable to score with runners in scoring position, leaving their players stranded at important times during the game.
The series is now tied 1-1, and the teams will travel to Truist Park for Game 3. With two Cy Young Award winners scheduled to take the mound for future games, the room for error is getting smaller.
