Braves even Division series against Dodgers with Fuentes and Kerr, CNN reports
The Atlanta Braves evened their Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1-1 following a 3-2 victory at Dodger Stadium, anchored by 21-year-old Colombian rookie Didier Fuentes and 32-year-old reliever Ray Kerr, CNN en Español reported.
How the Braves Survived Los Angeles Without Chris Sale
Manager Walt Weiss kept starting pitcher Chris Sale on the bench for the second game of the series. Weiss deployed Ray Kerr to open the game.
Kerr’s journey to a major league postseason mound included stops working at a 7-Eleven store and a movie theater after he briefly walked away from baseball at Mendocino College. Activated from the injured list in August, Kerr delivered 2.2 scoreless innings against Los Angeles, striking out four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani before exiting.
Didier Fuentes Delivers Historic Postseason Relief
Didier Fuentes entered the game in the top of the sixth inning with Atlanta holding a 2-1 lead, according to Impacto News. The right-hander from Tolú, Colombia, retired his first 11 batters faced. Over 3.2 innings of work, Fuentes threw 47 pitches with 30 strikes, allowing only one hit and one run without issuing a walk while striking out three.
NTN24 noted that the performance established a notable benchmark for a debutant of his age in decisive postseason play. Fuentes maintained his control until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Max Muncy hit a two-out home run to narrow Atlanta’s lead to 3-2. Fuentes was relieved soon after, sealing the narrow win.
“I knew the responsibility I had on my shoulders and I went out to execute the game plan with determination,” Fuentes said, as reported by NTN24.
Shifting the Series Back to Atlanta
With the series tied 1-1, the matchup shifts to Atlanta for the third game on Tuesday. The Braves will have a fully rested Chris Sale available to face the Dodgers lineup, with Tyler Mahle positioned to pitch game four if necessary. Under the current 2-2-1 postseason home-field format, teams returning home tied 1-1 have historically held a strong statistical advantage in securing the series.
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