LOS ANGELES — Ray Kerr is becoming an unlikely postseason hero on the mound for the Atlanta Braves.
The former convenience store and movie theater worker struck out four-time league MVP Shohei Ohtani on a 95 mph four-seam fastball in the Braves’ 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night that evened their best-of-five National League Division Series at a game apiece.
“He did it again for us, just amazing,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s throwing the ball so well.”
Ohtani was one of a season-high-tying four strikeouts for Kerr, a 32-year-old lefty reliever who found out in the morning that he’d be starting Game 2 that night. He allowed two hits and walked one in 2 2/3 innings.
“I didn’t really have much pressure on me,” Kerr said, explaining that he had breakfast with his wife and baby who are on the trip and went swimming. “And then when I got to the field, I developed my process in my head. Just an hour before the game, stretch, and get out there and only throw for like five, six minutes.”