LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers made a surprising and much talked-about decision to start Hyun-Jin Ryu over Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 of the NL Division Series.
Swell choice.
The South Korean left-hander pitched seven dominant innings and Los Angeles launched three home runs to beat the Atlanta Braves 6-0 on Thursday night.
Ryu delivered in his first
"I think we feel pretty good about it. He pitched well. He pitched well," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
The only slip Ryu made was when he mistook the second out of the fourth inning for the last out and started walking toward the dugout. He laughed upon realizing the gaffe.
The 31-year-old Ryu missed 3 1/2 months of the season with a groin strain and returned Aug. 15 to post a 1.88 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. Dodgers great Sandy Koufax was among those who gave Ryu a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout after his final pitch.
The Dodgers set franchise and National League records by hitting 235 homers during the regular season, and their tear continued with three more to begin their playoffs. The defending NL champions actually were outhit 6-5 by Atlanta, but the Braves only got singles.
Game 2 in the best-of-five matchup is Friday at Dodger Stadium, with Kershaw starting for Los Angeles against Anibal Sanchez.
The Braves have lost eight straight series openers in the
Rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. struck out twice and went 0 for 4 as the Baby Braves were blanked. This was Atlanta's first playoff appearance since 2013, when they lost to the Dodgers in four games.
Joc Pederson's leadoff shot in the bottom of the first rattled Mike Foltynewicz in his
Foltynewicz gave up four runs and three hits in two innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked two. He got out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the first by striking out Yasiel Puig.
Foltynewicz found trouble again in the second.
With two outs, he hit Pederson and walked Justin Turner before Muncy sent a 1-0 pitch over the wall in
Enrique Hernandez hit a solo shot with two outs in the sixth off Brad Brach. Pinch-hitter David Freese added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Ryu allowed a two-out single to Freddie Freeman in the first.
After that, he retired 12 consecutive batters before a pair of two-out singles to Ender Inciarte and former Dodger Charlie Culberson in the fifth. Puig charged in on pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki's fly to right field to end the inning. The Braves didn't advance a runner past second base in the game.
Ryu gave up another two-out single to Ozzie Albies in the seventh. With fans on their feet waving blue towels and the crowd of 50,947 chanting his name, Ryu got Inciarte on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.
Relievers Caleb Ferguson, Alex Wood and Dylan Floro completed the combined six-hitter.
UP NEXT
RHP Anibal Sanchez (7-6, 2.83 ERA) starts Game 2 for Atlanta. He is 2-4 with a 2.79 ERA in seven
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Beth Harris, The Associated Press
