Dodgers do just enough to outlast Braves in opener

Q: What was the final score of the Dodgers vs Braves game on May 8, 2026?

The final score was 3-1 in favor of the Dodgers.

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

Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run for the Dodgers.

Q: How many hits did the Dodgers have against Chris Sale?

The Dodgers had only five hits against Chris Sale.

Q: What was significant about Freddie Freeman's home run in this game?

It was Freeman's first home run since April 6, marking his 100th home run with the Dodgers.

May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates a solo home run with Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers clawed and scrapped their way to some offense against Chris Sale to get the better of the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Friday night’s series opener between perennial National League powerhouses at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers had only five hits in seven innings against Sale, but made them count. Teoscar Hernández singled and Kyle Tucker doubled him home in the second inning. Miguel Rojas reached on an error in the fifth inning, then with two outs Shohei Ohtani singled him home for the first Los Angeles lead of the evening. Then, Freddie Freeman and his newer closed stance provided insurance with a solo home run in the sixth inning, his third consecutive game with an extra-base hit, and fourth in the last five. That was Freeman’s first home run since April 6, snapping a string of 114 plate appearances without a long ball. Freeman now has 100 home runs with the Dodgers, the . The specter of potentially losing a rotation spot once no longer loomed after . Though the immediate pressure lessened, still looked to turn things around after allowing a pair of home runs in a loss last Saturday in . Holding velocity through the game has been an issue for Sheehan this season. He threw a fastball 97 mph in the first inning, his fastest pitch of the year, and averaged 96.1 mph in the opening frame. Sheehan’s average velocity still waned in his start, down to 92.4 mph in the fourth inning and 93.1 in the fifth. But he was effective enough to induce 14 swinging strikes (eight on the fastball) and strike out seven, with just one walk. “There’s certainly some things we’re trying to figure out and tap into to increase [velocity], but at the end of the day it’s about getting outs,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. Sheehan got 14 outs, and was pulled in a 1-1 tie with two outs in the fifth with runners at the corners and lefty at the plate. Southpaw got Olson to fly out to end the frame. Friday’s stellar matchup was close throughout, and also featured a few defensive highlights. doubled to the left field wall in the fourth inning, but a perfect relay from Hernández to Rojas to nailed at the plate, an out call upheld by replay review. In the bottom of the fourth, a sure single to shallow left field by Tucker was instead plucked out of the air by shortstop Jim Jarvis in just his second major league game. Charley Steiner on the Dodgers radio call said of the spectacular catch, “It was as if he was diving into the pool.” After , the Dodgers followed Thursday’s off day with five pitchers to get the final 13 outs on Friday, nearly all of them through stress. Vesia stranded Sheehan’s two runners in the fifth. allowed two singles before pitching a scoreless sixth. stranded a seventh-inning walk, then was pulled after a leadoff single in the eighth, trying to pitch a second inning. walked a batter of his own, then stranded those two runners to finish the frame. however pitched a clean ninth to close out the win, earning his third save of the season.

Dodgers do just enough to outlast Braves in opener

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

Related Articles

“Very clear” – Arne Slot claims he knows how Chelsea will line up against Liverpool tomorrow

Sevilla, protagonista del estreno del Giro y su otra vida en el campo: "Así sé el precio de las cosas o si lloverá o no"

Mitch Marner nets hat trick in dominant Game 3 win

Los invencibles: así son los dos únicos equipos de España que no han perdido un solo partido

Bruno Fernandes: Man United captain wins massive award

De 'rider' de Glovo al Giro, la increíble historia del 'cohete' de Movistar que busca estreno triunfal: “Tuve que trabajar para costearme la vida"

More from Sports

Friday particulars

Up next