Braves hold off Dodgers behind Albies’ late RBI, Iglesias’ ninth-inning heroics

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Atlanta Braves have been scuffling, and their schedule did not get any easier with the Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town.

But Atlanta escaped with a 4-3 win at Truist Park, as closer Raisel Iglesias stranded Shohei Ohtani at third base after Ohtani opened the ninth inning with a triple. Iglesias then retired the next three batters to secure the win.

The Braves have now won three of four games against the Dodgers this season.

Iglesias’ save was backed by Ozzie Albies’ go-ahead, two-out single off Tanner Scott in the eighth inning. Earlier, Albies hit his 13th sacrifice fly of the season, setting the Braves’ single-season franchise record. Hank Aaron and Del Crandall previously shared the record with 12, set in 1960.

“It’s pretty cool,” Albies said of the record. “I heard about if a couple weeks ago when I was a couple away. But I didn’t know it was a franchise record, so very cool.”

“I never doubt the room in there,” manager Walt Weiss said after the game. “The guys play to win, they play for the team. The mentality, the makeup of the room’s really good. This was a great game.”

After a lackluster offensive month, the Braves scored three first-inning runs against Tyler Glasnow, who was making his first start since May 6. Glasnow allowed four singles before recording his first out but settled in to complete five innings of work.

The Braves appeared to have a chance to score a fourth run in the first inning. Home plate umpire Edwin Jimenez ruled that Mike Yastrzemski fouled off a 3-1 pitch, though replays appeared to show the ball missed Yastrzemski’s bat. Jimenez’s ruling stood, preventing an additional run.

Bryce Elder tossed six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits (all singles) and no walks. If the postseason began Wednesday, Elder would likely pitch in a Game 2 scenario behind ace Chris Sale. Elder has a 3.95 ERA across 143.5 innings this season.

After Tuesday’s win, Atlanta holds a four-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East race. The Phillies lost Monday night to the Seattle Mariners, snapping a nine-game winning streak that had tightened the division race as the Braves lost seven of 10.

The Braves and Phillies’ final regular season matchup this season will come Sept. 4-7 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.