LOS ANGELES — The Atlanta Braves’ first West Coast trip of the season has been marked by close games against tough competition, and close losses for the visitors.
Andy Pages had a walkoff single in the 11th inning for his fourth hit of the game, and the Los Angeles Dodgers outlasted the Braves 4-3 on Friday night.
Gavin Stone pitched well and Teoscar Hernandez homered for the Dodgers in a matchup of two of Major League Baseball’s best teams, with National League West Division leader Los Angeles boosting its record to 21-13 and its lead over the second-place San Diego Padres to 4 1/2 games.
Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. homered for the Braves (20-10), who fell into second place and a half-game behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, where Atlanta is the six-time reigning champion.
With Will Smith on second base in the 11th, the Braves intentionally walked Max Muncy. Hernandez hit into a fielder’s choice, and Pages battled Jesse Chavez (1-1) to a full count in an at-bat that lasted eight pitches before his hit ended the game.
