Atlanta Braves vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score on Sep 01, 2021

The Dodgers rallied for two runs in the eighth inning Wednesday to earn a 4-3 victory over the visiting Atlanta Braves, completing a three-game series sweep and vaulting Los Angeles into first place in the National League West.

Max Scherzer pitched six scoreless innings while Max Muncy and Austin Barnes hit home runs for Los Angeles (85-49). With San Francisco losing at home 5-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers, the Dodgers moved a half-game in front of the Giants in the NL West.

The Dodgers finished off their fourth three-game sweep in their past six series as they head into a three-game set at San Francisco starting Friday. Los Angeles sits atop the division for the first time since sharing the lead on April 28.

Scherzer allowed three hits and no walks while striking out nine but was removed after just 76 pitches before the bullpen blew the lead. He said postgame that he exited due to hamstring tightness, though he termed the issue minor. Scherzer has a 1.29 ERA since joining the Dodgers from the Washington Nationals in a trade-deadline deal.

Eddie Rosario and Dansby Swanson hit home runs for the Braves and Max Fried pitched six strong innings, but Atlanta (70-62) still lost for the sixth time in its past eight games.

Muncy lifted his 30th of the season to left-center field in the opening inning. He has at least 30 home runs in each of the past three 162-game seasons.

Barnes took Fried over the left field wall in the third inning, his sixth of the season and second in his last three games.

After Barnes' home run, Fried gave up just one more hit. He allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.

With Scherzer gone, Atlanta tied the game in the seventh inning. Travis d'Arnaud hit a one-out single and Eddie Rosario crushed a two-run home run, his eighth, off Brusdar Graterol.

Swanson put the Braves up 3-2 in the eighth with his 26th home run, a drive to center field off Alex Vesia.

Dodgers right-hander Phil Bickford (3-1) recorded one out in the eighth to pick up the victory, and Joe Kelly pitched the ninth inning for his second save.

The Dodgers' Mookie Betts struck out four times, including one in the eighth inning with one out and the tying run on third base. Justin Turner followed with a single to left field to bring home Trea Turner, who had doubled, and Pollock also singled to left after a walk to Corey Seager to bring knock in Justin Turner.

Chris Martin (2-4) took the loss after giving up the hits to Justin Turner and Pollock.

--Field Level Media