By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Dodgers caught fire this week, winning six consecutive games — tied for their longest winning streak of the season — before Atlanta ended the run with a 4-3 victory at Truist Park.
The streak began with a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies, with several Dodgers delivering standout performances along the way.
Ohtani, Muncy Lead the Way
Shohei Ohtani continued to make an impact at the plate, hitting three home runs and driving in five runs during the week while posting a 1.066 OPS. He also homered in a 7-6 Dodgers victory.
Max Muncy was another major contributor, belting two home runs and driving in seven runs while posting a 1.312 OPS during the stretch.
On the mound, Tarik Skubal recorded 11 strikeouts in his first victory with the Dodgers.
The series finale against Colorado provided another dramatic finish. Mookie Betts homered and capped a three-hit performance with an RBI single in the 10th inning, giving Los Angeles a 6-4 victory and completing the sweep.
Kiké Hernández also homered, while Kyle Tucker collected two hits as the Dodgers continued their surge.
Braves End the Streak
Atlanta finally stopped the Dodgers’ winning streak with a 4-3 victory.
The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead against Tyler Glasnow, who was making his first major league start in 3½ months. Glasnow settled down after the early trouble, allowing only two additional hits over his five-inning outing.
The right-hander struck out seven, walked none and threw 89 pitches.
Atlanta’s decisive run came in the eighth inning. Matt Olson led off with a double against Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott. Mauricio Dubón moved Olson to third on a broken-bat grounder, and Michael Harris II was unable to bring him home with a weak grounder back to the mound.
Ozzie Albies then delivered the game-winning hit, lining a ball to center field.
Ohtani Nearly Sparks a Comeback
The Dodgers had one final opportunity in the ninth.
Ohtani opened the inning by tripling off the left-field wall against Raisel Iglesias, but Los Angeles could not bring him home. Iglesias closed out the game for his 28th save in 31 opportunities.
Despite the loss, the Dodgers’ six-game run showed signs of an offense finding its rhythm, with Ohtani, Muncy, Betts and others providing timely power and production.
The challenge now is maintaining that momentum as the Dodgers continue their push through the season.