Blake Snell struggles in season debut, Braves defeat Dodgers 7-2

TL;DR

Blake Snell struggled in his season debut, allowing 5 runs in 3 innings as the Braves defeated the Dodgers 7-2. Spencer Strider dominated on the mound for Atlanta, pitching six shutout innings.

Key points

Blake Snell made his season debut after missing the first month.
Spencer Strider pitched six shutout innings for the Braves.
The Braves scored 5 runs in the second inning.
Andy Pages hit a home run for the Dodgers in the ninth inning.

Blake SnellSpencer StriderLos Angeles DodgersAtlanta Braves

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Blake Snell #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on May 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Dodgers got the best of Chris Sale on Friday, but against the flamethrower Spencer Strider and crew, they were nearly left silent as the Braves defeated the Dodgers by a final of 7-2. Blake Snell made his 2026 season debut after missing the first month of the regular season, marking his first appearance since coming out of the bullpen for Game 7 of the World Series last year. Atlanta immediately loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning as Mauricio Dubón and Ozzie Albies singled while Snell walked Drake Baldwin. Snell managed to strike out Matt Olson, but a fielder’s choice from Austin Riley gave the Braves an early 1-0 lead. Snell struck out Michael Harris II to complete his first inning of work having tossed 25 pitches. Snell had a better start to the second inning, striking out on three pitches, but the Braves rattled off a pair of singles from and , with Baldwin later walking for a second time to load the bases with two outs. Albies somehow made contact on a pitch just off the dirt and poked it into left field for a two-run single, with Olson following with another two-run single to make it a 5-0 Braves lead. Snell would face one batter over the minimum in the top of the third inning, but he ended his night having tossed 78 pitches over three innings. The Braves would tack on another run with an RBI double from Harris against to make it a 6-0 lead. While Snell struggled over just three innings, the same could not be said about Braves right-hander Spencer Strider as he kept the Dodgers in check over six shutout innings, striking out eight while allowing just one hit— a single by in the first inning— and walking just two on 90 pitches. Strider had a first pitch strike rate at 71.4 percent (15 first pitch strikes over 21 hitters) against the Dodgers, and even though he generated a 20 percent whiff rate on his fastball, his three complementary pitches totaled a combined 62.5 percent whiff rate. After and Henriquez combined for one run allowed over three innings, made his season debut and just his second appearance as a Dodger. Gervase completed three innings of work allowing four hits and a walk with five strikeouts, although he helped Atlanta get another run as Jorge Mateo singled in the top of the eighth to make it a 7-0 lead. ’s seven-game hitting streak came to a close as he went 0-3 before being pulled in the top of the seventh inning for . The Dodgers were once again a handful of outs away from getting shut out, but gave the Dodgers their first extra-base hit of the night with a double in the bottom of the ninth, with launching a home run to put the Dodgers on the board. Pages now has nine home runs on the season— four this week— tied with for the team lead. kept the game alive with a single up the middle before was called safe on a ground ball to first. The initial call was overturned, giving the Dodgers’ their second loss that was verified by replay review on the final play over their last three home games.

Q&A

What were Blake Snell's stats in his season debut against the Braves?

Blake Snell pitched 3 innings, allowing 6 hits and 5 runs (4 earned), with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.

How did Spencer Strider perform in the game against the Dodgers?

Spencer Strider pitched 6 shutout innings, allowing only 1 hit, with 2 walks and 8 strikeouts.

What was the final score of the Dodgers vs. Braves game on May 9, 2026?

The Braves defeated the Dodgers 7-2.

Who hit a home run for the Dodgers in the game against the Braves?

Andy Pages hit a home run for the Dodgers, bringing his season total to 9 home runs.