ATLANTA — The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Championship Series with a 4-1 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Truist Park, powered by Andy Pages' tiebreaking two-run single in the seventh and Max Muncy's third home run in four games.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow limited Atlanta to one hit and one run in 4 2/3 innings, but five walks — tied for the second-most in his postseason career behind only the six he issued in Game 1 of the 2020 World Series for Tampa Bay against the Dodgers — prevented a deeper outing. The lone run came on Michael Harris II's first-pitch single, a stolen second aided by catcher Will Smith's off-target throw past Kiké Hernández, a groundout by Matt Olson to move Harris to third, and a spiked 0-2 curveball to Ozzie Albies that Smith blocked but rolled toward the mound as Harris dashed home. Glasnow did not allow another runner past first until his second walk of the fifth with two outs ended his night, while four relievers — Alex Vesia, Edgardo Henriquez, Tanner Scott and Edwin Díaz — held the Braves scoreless the rest of the way.
Atlanta right-hander Tyler Mahle, who had not faced Los Angeles since April when he carried a 5.13 ERA with the San Francisco Giants before posting a 1.99 ERA since being acquired by the Braves and limiting the Philadelphia Phillies to one run in seven innings in his postseason debut, held the Dodgers to three hits in 6 1/3 innings. "He's on a nice run here," manager Dave Roberts said before the game. "We're certainly not going to take him lightly. We've got our work cut out." Los Angeles' lone run against him came in the second when Shohei Ohtani, moved up to the cleanup spot after hitting fifth the previous night, drew a five-pitch walk without swinging, stole second and took third on an errant throw before scoring when shortstop Mauricio Dubón — who robbed Freddie Freeman of a home run in left field the day before — dropped a popup in shallow left. Left fielder Teoscar Hernández provided a scare in the sixth when he crashed into the wall trying to catch Albies' double off Vesia, putting his hand to his head while speaking with an athletic trainer before staying in the game.
The game turned to the bullpens and Los Angeles broke through in the top of the seventh. Teoscar Hernández singled, rookie Josue De Paula drew a pinch-hit walk and Kyle Tucker added a five-pitch walk to load the bases, prompting Atlanta to call on right-hander Robert Suarez to face Pages. Pages worked a full count and lined a fastball through the middle of the infield for a two-run single and a 3-1 lead, his fourth hit in two games after an 0-for-7 start to the series. Max Muncy added insurance in the ninth with his third home run of the series.
It is the ninth time in the last 14 seasons the Dodgers have advanced to the NLCS, and the club will seek its sixth World Series appearance in 10 seasons starting Sunday against either the Milwaukee Brewers or San Diego Padres. The victory builds on Yamamoto's strong outing that gave Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead earlier in the series.