Braves vs Dodgers final score: Raisel Iglesias weakens, brutal 9-2 defeat

The Braves wanted to capitalize on the Mets' slip-ups and had the chance to secure the last wild card spot behind Charlie Morton and face Walker Buehler and the Dodgers.

Charlie started well, striking out Ohtani with his walk to end a scoreless first inning, while Freeman was the only baserunner to get a walk. A Dodgers double by Edman posed a threat in the second inning, but Charlie escaped with two flyouts and a strikeout. The Braves managed two singles and a walk in the second inning at home, but in brutal succession a double play in between led to a scoreless inning. In a scene familiar from Truist Park, Buehler got himself into a tough bases-loaded situation with two walks and catcher interference. He walked a run home and allowed a fairly lucky infield single by Travis d'Arnaud for the game's first two runs, but got out of the inning unscathed, despite a deep fly ball that looked like it came off the bat of Jarred Kelenic.

A Muncy single and a Lux walk started the fifth for the Dodgers, putting Charlie in a tough spot. After a flyout and a strikeout, Ohtani finally got to Morton and brought home a run with an absolutely devastating double. Charlie got Mookie to reach for a curveball for an inning-ending flyout. After a 1-2-3 inning from Buehler, Snitker made a dangerous play, trying to get away with a sixth inning from Morton, making his third appearance against the Dodgers. He absolutely got away with it, however, as Morton rewarded him with a 1-2-3 inning, capping a strong 6.0 inning, one run, and 6 strikeout performance. The bottom of the Braves line once again had nothing to offer in the bottom of the inning.

Dylan Lee took over for Morton in the seventh inning and allowed a two-out walk (due to a pitch clock violation) and a single, putting Ohtani in a dangerous situation. Lee made Ohtani look bad on the first two pitches of the at-bat, but Ohtani grabbed an 0-2 slider and hit a looping double down the right field line to tie the game. Joe Jimenez replaced Lee and got Mookie Betts to fly out, tying the game at 2 runs. Blake Treinen came in for the seventh home inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning with three groundouts by Merrifield, Harris and Soler. Jimenez came back out for the eighth inning and hit a walk to keep the game tied 2-2.

The Dodgers brought in flamethrower Michael Kopech, who they had turned into a monster, but the Braves offense showed up against him in the eighth inning. Marcell Ozuna opened the inning with a walk and Olson hit a double off the right outfield wall, putting men on second and third base without making an out. Unfortunately, d'Arnaud flied out softly and then Arcia and Kelenic struck out, ending the inning. It was a huge missed opportunity that we may remember at the end of the season.

Raisel Iglesias took the ninth inning for Atlanta and was visibly fired up, throwing to the first batter in a 3-pitch, 90-mile strikeout. Will Smith hit the top of the right outfield wall for a triple that was probably an inch away from being a solo home run to take the lead. Raisel got Pages to ground out and had Ohtani walk to Betts. Mookie put LA ahead with a groundball RBI single. Freddie Freeman followed Mookie with a chopper that narrowly eluded Urshela at third base and it looked like there might be a play at the plate when Ohtani went home and Jarred Kelenic approached the ball, but Kelenic let it pass under his glove, allowing two more Dodgers to score and effectively ending the game. Teoscar Hernandez sealed the deal with a two-run home run to put LA ahead by 5 runs. John Brebbia replaced Iglesias and allowed a solo home run by Edman that gave the Dodgers another run in the 9th inning. Brebbia allowed another home run by Muncy as the Dodgers were teeing off at that point and the game was effectively over.

The Braves fell to the ground whimpering at the end of the ninth inning, once again missing a great opportunity.

The Dodgers are really good and you can't expect to sweep them in a four-game series, but this game was absolutely winnable for Atlanta, especially after missing a big chance to score with men on second and third base and no outs in the eighth inning. That being said, this is a failure to capitalize on the Mets' stumble and take sole control of the final wild card spot. Instead, they remain tied with the Mets and right on the edge of the playoff bubble.

Tune in tomorrow for the series finale at 7:20 p.m. ET.