Mookie Betts led the Dodgers to a critical 3-1 Game 3 victory over the Braves, breaking through against Chris Sale to take a commanding lead in the NLDS.
The tension at Truist Park was palpable on Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the daunting task of dismantling one of baseball’s most storied arms. Down 1-0 in the National League Division Series. the Atlanta Braves had played their hand perfectly. utilizing a bullpen day in Game 2 to ensure ace Chris Sale took the mound for Game 3 on four days of rest. But the Dodgers, despite an offensive season defined by long stretches of struggle, had other plans.
They didn’t just beat Sale; they wore him down. By fouling off pitches and relentlessly driving up his count. the Dodgers found the cracks in the future Hall of Famer’s armor. finally breaking through in the fourth inning. For Mookie Betts. who won a championship alongside Sale in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. the victory was a testament to the team’s persistence against a pitcher of such pedigree.
“Really just tried to have some good at-bats. ” Betts said after recording two of the Dodgers’ seven hits against the star southpaw. “He’s really good at putting guys away. but we were able to foul some pitches off. get a couple to fall. Kike with a big homer right there. Freddie as well… Scoring 3 on Chris Sale. that’s like scoring 10.”.
Betts was the catalyst. He worked a full count to lead off the game with an infield single and added another knock in the third. his trademark pressure forcing the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner toward the edge of combustion. The dam broke in the fourth: Kike Hernandez delivered a 406-foot two-run blast. followed shortly by a powerful strike from 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman.
That three-run burst proved to be the difference. providing enough cushion for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. who delivered a masterclass performance on the mound. It was the kind of composed, high-stakes outing that has solidified the Dodgers’ grip on this series. The contrast between the team’s earlier offensive inconsistency and their clinical execution in an uninviting environment was stark.
Following a stellar September, Betts has signaled his readiness to chase a three-peat. The seven-time Silver Slugger now turns his attention to Wednesday’s Game 4, where the Dodgers will look to finish the job against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle.
Mookie Betts Dodgers Chris Sale Braves NLDS MLB Game 3 Kike Hernandez Freddie Freeman Yoshinobu Yamamoto