Skubal shuts down Braves' bats, stakes Dodgers to 1-0 NLDS lead - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Tarik Skubal tossed six dominant innings in triple-digit heat, Teoscar Hernandez, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of their National League Division Series on Saturday.

The game-time temperature of 100 degrees (38 Celsius) fell just short of equaling the Dodger Stadium record of 103 degrees at Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. The feels-like temperature was 105 degrees, with umpires chugging water between innings and fans shielding their heads with giveaway towels on a cloudless day.

Skubal was cool, though.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and two hits, struck out seven and walked two while starting a postseason game at home for the first time in his career. His previous playoff starts were all on the road for the Detroit Tigers, who traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions just before the Aug. 3 deadline.

«To go through six in these conditions I thought was fantastic,» Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. «And I thought the bullpen did a fine job.»

Skubal's 63 strikeouts are the second most in a pitcher's first seven postseason appearances behind Bob Gibson's 74.

«It was a ton of fun,» Skubal said. «I've got a lot of respect for the fans that came out and showed up today. It's not easy. It's 100 degrees. The sun was on us the entire game.»

Game 2 is Sunday evening at Dodger Stadium, when an extreme heat warning remains in effect.

Hernandez and Tucker both went through major slumps at the plate during the season. But they came up big with two-run homers against the Braves' bullpen. Atlanta's rotation got upended during its three-game NL Wild Card Series win over Philadelphia, with the Braves using ace