Dodgers vs. Braves, 2013 NLDS Game 2 results: Atlanta knots series with 4-3 win

Jason Heyward delivered a two-run single in the seventh inning to help Atlanta even the series.

Oct 5, 2013, 1:38 AM UTC

Kevin C. Cox

The Atlanta Braves bounced back from their Game 1 loss in the 2013 National League Division Series to earn a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 on Friday.

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Mike Minor allowed only one run in 6⅓ innings while scattering eight hits and notching five strikeouts. The Braves supported their starting pitcher by getting to Dodgers hurler Zack Greinke for two runs in six innings and adding two more in the bottom of the seventh against Dodgers relievers Chris Withrow and Paco Rodriguez.

Withrow surrendered a leadoff walk to Brian McCann before allowing a single to Chris Johnson. He retired Andrelton Simmons and Elliot Johnson before giving way to Rodriguez, who passed on Reed Johnson in favor of a left-on-left matchup with Jason Heyward. Heyward promptly smoked a line drive into center field, plating two all-important insurance runs for Atlanta.

The Dodgers got on the board first on an RBI double off the bat of Hanley Ramirez in the first inning. The Braves answered back an inning later when Andrelton Simmons doubled in Evan Gattis. Chris Johnson put Atlanta ahead in the fourth with a run-scoring single off of Greinke, who struck out three and surrendered only four hits.

Ramirez struck again in the eighth with a two-run homer off of Braves reliever David Carpenter, against whom right-handed batters hit .183 during the regular season, cutting the Dodgers’ deficit to one run. It was Ramirez’s third extra-base hit of the game, tying a franchise record.

Carpenter bounced back to strike out the next two hitters, and closer Craig Kimbrel came on with two outs and retired Juan Uribe to end the inning before working around walks to A.J. Ellis and Andre Ethier in keeping the Dodgers off the board in the ninth. Kimbrel got some help from catcher Gerald Laird, who caught pinch-runner Dee Gordon trying to steal second base for the second out of the inning.

The two teams will take a break on Saturday before resuming the NLDS with Game 3 on Sunday in Los Angeles. Julio Teheran (14-8, 3.20 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Braves opposite Dodgers rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-8, 3.00 ERA).