Dodgers get routed by Braves as offense stays quiet

It was another rough day at the plate as the Dodgers failed to get the bats going while the pitching struggled mightily in a 10-1 blowout loss at the hands of the Braves on Saturday night.

Despite totaling seven hits, the only run scored on the night for Los Angeles came in the third inning, where Mookie Betts scored Kike Hernandez on an RBI single.

Atlanta, however, had their way at the plate and delivered double-digit runs for the sixth time since August 10. Their scoring was highlighted by a pair of bases-clearing, three-run doubles from Orlando Arcia and Matt Olson. 

The pair combined to account for 7 of the Braves' 10 runs on the night.

On the mound, Jack Flaherty (12-7) had his first forgettable start with the Dodgers. He lasted just three innings, using 83 pitches (45 strikes) as he labored forward and allowed five hits and four walks. 

In the bullpen, it was Evan Phillips who gave up another big chunk of runs. He lasted just 1/3 of an inning, surrendering three hits of his own and walking two more. 

The Dodgers are now 87-61 and 39-34 on the road. They remain 4 games ahead of the Padres for the lead in the NL West with the Diamondbacks just 1/2 of a game behind San Diego.

Flaherty chased out early

The right-hander was outmatched on Saturday night as the Atlanta lineup did a great job running up his pitch count and delivering the finishing blow. Flaherty lasted just three innings in a start for the first time all season, with his shortest appearance prior being five innings.

After allowing a leadoff single to Michael Harris to start the game, he nearly escaped the frame with back-to-back strikeouts of Jorge Soler and Marcell Ozuna to get to two outs. However, Matt Olson came through with an RBI double to get Atlanta on the board early.

In the second, Flaherty allowed a two-out double to Whitt Merrifield but got out of the inning unscathed. The third is where he would fall apart.

He allowed a double to Jorge Soler and a walk to Marcel Ozuna that started the inning. After retiring the next two batters, it looked like Flaherty might be able to escape another inning without allowing a run. 

Once again, he issued another walk to Jared Kelenic that loaded the bases. It allowed Orlando Arcia to step up and come through for Atlanta with the big hit.

With his pitch count alarmingly high after three innings, he would not see the mound in the fourth. He finished with four earned runs conceded for just the second time since July.

In the end, it was the lack of control that cost the 28-year-old. It was the first time this season that he had walked more than three batters in a game, giving the Atlanta lineup plenty of extra baserunners to work with. 

Flaherty continued his career-long struggles against the Braves and is now 1-2 against them with a 5.49 ERA in four appearances.

Offense stays silent

Los Angeles failed to plate at least three runs for just the 19th time this season, now having scored just three runs through the first two games in the series. They have now been held to one run in three games throughout September thus far.

While the Braves only collected three more hits in the game, they converted when it mattered the most. The Dodgers managed just four at-bats with runners in scoring position, converting in just one of them. 

Of the seven batters who took at-bats hitting within the 5-9 spots in the lineup, they finished a combined 3-17 (.176). The trio of Shohei Ohtani, Betts and Freeman went just 2-9 (.222).

Ohtani's journey to the 50-50 club has come to a halt in Atlanta through the first two games, as he is now 0-8 with three strikeouts and no stolen bases. Betts and Freeman are both 1-7 in the series.

On Saturday, the stalling from the lineup could be heavily blamed on Brave's ace Chris Sale. The 35-year-old southpaw improved to an MLB-best 17-3, allowing just one run through six innings. 

Sale is the first player in Atlanta history to allow no more than two earned runs in 17 straight starts. He now also leads the National League in strikeouts with 219, passing San Diego's Dylan Cease.

Atlanta pitchers have now dealt quality starts in both games to start the series, making it very difficult for the Los Angeles lineup to get going. They will need to set the tone earlier on in the final two games if they wish to have a chance at a split.

Phillips blunders big

Just as Flaherty did, right-hander Evan Phillips had his most disappointing appearance of the season. The 30-year-old only managed to record one out in the sixth before being pulled as the Braves poured it on to extend the lead against him.

He led off the inning with a walk to Orlando Arcia before conceding back-to-back hits to Gio Urshela (double) and Whit Merrifield (single). Merrifield's hit made it 5-1 before a sacrifice fly from Michael Harris made it 6-1.

Phillips then allowed another double to Jorge Soler and his second walk to Marcell Ozuna to load the bases up. It set Matt Olson for a bases-loaded at-bat against Ryan Brasier as he was pulled from the game.

He would ultimately allow five earned runs, doing so for the first time this season. Phillips had been on a hot streak since the start of August, allowing just one run across 13 1/3 total innings.

It was his first time surrendering more than four hits in an outing. The bullpen allowed six runs total, conceding six more hits as the Braves kept their foot on the gas the whole way through.

Phillips raised his ERA drastically from 2.96 to 3.86. 

Injury news: Right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow is now considered "highly unlikely" to return this season according to Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts. He was unable to pitch in a simulated game on Friday night after complaining of pain in his elbow while warming up. His absence would be a big hit to the Los Angeles rotation come playoff time.

The Dodgers and Braves will play the third game of four at 4:10 on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-5, 4.11 ERA) will start against Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton (8-8, 4.11 ERA).