ATLANTA - Marcell Ozuna said he's beginning to see evidence of his work to regain his timing at the plate after missing most of last season.
He backed up that claim Saturday night with his biggest hit of the year.
Ozuna hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, helping the Atlanta Braves recover after blowing a three-run lead to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3.
Travis d'Arnaud led off the bottom of the eighth with a double to left field off Brusdar Graterol (2-3), and Ozuna followed with a shot to center for his 14th homer of the season.
"It felt amazing," said Ozuna, who is hitting only .227 but has hits in 29 of his past 37 games. " I lost a full season last year, so it's hard to get back in the timing."
Ozuna was limited to 48 games in 2021 due to an injury and his May 29 arrest on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery. In November, MLB suspended the 31-year-old Ozuna retroactively for 20 games under its domestic violence policy, allowing him to return for the start of this season.
"He's had some big hits lately," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He's still fighting to get himself to where he wants to be, but in between he's had some big hits for us."
Graterol faltered in his first opportunity to show he can take a more important role in the back of the Dodgers' bullpen after Daniel Hudson's season-ending knee injury was confirmed before the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn't identify who he expects to fill in for Hudson, but Graterol was considered a top candidate.
"Obviously the guys that are here are going to have an opportunity," Roberts said. "I'm not going to say who it is, but they're going to have opportunities."
Dodgers designated hitter Will Smith tied the game at 3 with a homer to left field off A.J. Minter (4-1) to open the eighth.
Freddie Freeman had one hit with three strikeouts - including a bases-loaded whiff to end the seventh - in the second game of his highly anticipated return to Atlanta. The 2020 National League MVP with the Braves appeared more relaxed after his emotional return Friday, when the first baseman received his 2021 World Series championship ring in a pregame ceremony and was given standing ovations then and before his first at-bat at Truist Park as a Dodger.
Freeman said after Friday night's game he was physically and emotionally drained. He enjoyed a more normal routine Saturday, when he had his 5-year-old son, Charlie, with him on the field for early fielding practice.
Braves left-hander Max Fried allowed six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in 6 2/3 innings. Former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth, including throwing a game-ending fastball past Trea Turner, for his 19th save this year.
Cody Bellinger had a run-scoring single off Fried as the Dodgers scored two runs in the seventh. Braves reliever Will Smith gave up Austin Barnes' run-scoring single to right, cutting Atlanta's lead to 3-2 before walking Turner to load the bases. Smith struck out Freeman to end the inning.
The teams have split the first two games in the latest rematch of the past two NL Championship Series. Freeman reached base three times and scored two runs in the Dodgers' 4-1 win Friday night, but the Braves bounced back Saturday to preserve their hopes for a series win after losing two of three in Los Angeles in April.
Mitch White, recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, allowed three runs and five hits with two walks in four-plus innings. White was pulled after giving singles to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Swanson to open the fourth. Austin Riley's double to center field off Alex Vesia drove in Acuña.
White was added to the rotation after left-hander Andrew Heaney was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with left shoulder inflammation.
Braves rookie Michael Harris II led off the third with a double that was misplayed by Dodgers right fielder Trayce Thompson. He took a step in before stopping, unable to recover as the liner sailed over his head.
One out later, Swanson hit a first-pitch slider 413 feet over the fence in center for a 2-0 lead. It was Swanson's seventh homer of June and 13th this year. Swanson has hits in 18 of his past 19 games.
A three-man crew of umpires started the game before Alex MacKay, a late fill-in, arrived in the fourth inning. MacKay was summoned when Cory Blaser could not work the game for medical reasons.
Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin (9-0, 1.58) will put his unbeaten record on the line when he faces Braves rookie righty Spencer Strider (3-2, 3.40) in Sunday night's series finale.
On the injury front, Atlanta outfielder Eddie Rosario (blurred vision, swelling in right retina) was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett for a rehab assignment. Rosario was placed on the injured list on April 25 and was expected to play in Saturday night's game in Nashville.
Also, Dodgers right-hander Daniel Hudson's torn left anterior cruciate ligament was confirmed, ending his season. Hudson's knee buckled in the eighth inning of Friday's game as he reacted to a dribbler hit by Acuña. Hudson's recovery is expected to take six to nine months.