LOS ANGELES – Rather than pop, Ronald Acuna Jr. started the game with a popup.
The big-hitting rookie never got into the swing at Dodger Stadium, and neither did the rest of the Atlanta Braves.
Hoping to break loose in their first postseason appearance since 2013, the Braves instead were blanked on six singles Thursday night, losing 6-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin their best-of-five National League Division Series.
Acuna and fellow rookie Ozzie Albies were held in check, as were veterans Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis. Atlanta never got a runner past second base against Hyun-Jin Ryu and a trio of Los Angeles relievers.
Acuna, who was 0-for-4 and struck out twice, said he didn’t think there was any pressure participating in his first postseason game.
“Never, to be honest,” he said. “I don’t see any need to put any unnecessary pressure on ourselves.”
Two hallmarks that propelled the Baby Braves to 90 wins and the NL East title were nonexistent in Game 1 – solid starting pitching and timely hitting.
Atlanta, though, continued a late-season offensive slump. This was the third time in the past six games the Braves have been shut out; they have scored three or more runs just once in the same stretch.
All-Star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz, Atlanta’s best starter all season, allowed four runs on three hits in two innings. The right-hander had not allowed a home run in four of his past five starts but gave up two to the Dodgers, including a leadoff drive by Joc Pederson on his third pitch.
Foltynewicz threw 28 pitches in the first and almost didn’t get out of the inning. He loaded the bases with two outs before striking out Yasiel Puig. Foltynewicz got into more trouble in the second inning, allowing a three-run shot to Max Muncy after hitting Pederson with a pitch and walking Justin Turner.
Foltynewicz said he had the same feelings as if it were a regular start, but manager Brian Snitker thought that pitching in his first postseason game might have gotten to him.
“I think he was amped up, overthrown, got out of the delivery a little bit,” Snitker said. “He got hurt quick, really. I mean, we’re lucky he got out of the first inning. But, you know, it was just a situation there you get behind against a guy like that, we were just trying to try and stop the bleeding there a little bit.”
The 20-year-old Acuna reached on shortstop Manny Machado’s error to lead off the sixth but was caught stealing when he missed a sign from third base coach Ron Washington.
“It was just a kid, I think, that was out there and thinking that his teammate’s going to put that ball in play and he’s going to try to help make something happen,” Snitker said of the missed sign.
The 21-year-old Albies was 1-for-4, and 24-year-old Johan Camargo was hitless in four tries.
Snitker’s overall assessment of his team?
“I think they were jacked up and excited, and it’s a big moment to this point in their career, Folty included. And take nothing away from what he did all year, I mean. And it was good for him to experience this,” Snitker said.
“And I think guys now, since we have experienced it, they’ve been through a lot, they’ve come back a lot all year. And I think they’ll come back with a little more sense of what we’re in for tomorrow.”
Sean Newcomb, mentioned by Snitker before Thursday’s game as a possibility to start Game 3 on Sunday, was the first pitcher out of the bullpen and went two innings. That would leave Kevin Gausman and Julio Teheran as the likely starters.
The Braves’ task of evening up the series tonight could be one of their more difficult games of the season as they face Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
“I think everyone knows we have our hands full,” said Freeman, who was 1-for-4. “It was nice to get the first game out of the way. A lot of young guys got their first playoff game, so hopefully we can score some runs tomorrow.”
Anibal Sanchez, who will start for the Braves, didn’t seem that fazed about the matchup.
“I don’t think too much about the pitchers that I’m going to face. I just try to keep my mind on the hitters that I’m going to face ,” Sanchez said before Thursday’s game. “I think they’ve got a pretty good lineup. It’s no doubt how good Kershaw is and what he’s been doing for his whole career. But at the end, I don’t want to put that impression in my mind.”