Dodgers win series against Braves
LOS ANGELES — Juan Uribe hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning after Clayton Kershaw started on short rest for the Dodgers in a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night, sending Los Angeles into the National League championship series for the first time since 2009.
Carl Crawford homered his first two times up for the Dodgers, who won the best-of-five division series 3-1. It was the latest October flop for Atlanta, which hasn’t won a postseason series since 2001.
During that stretch, the Braves have lost seven straight playoff series and the 2012 NL wild-card game.
Manager Don Mattingly and the NL West champion Dodgers will open the NLCS on Friday against St. Louis or Pittsburgh. The Cardinals host the wild-card Pirates in a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday.
Yasiel Puig doubled down the right-field line leading off the eighth against losing pitcher David Carpenter. The rookie charged into second base and pumped his right fist in the air. Fans were on their feet chanting “Let’s go Dodgers!” when Uribe fouled off two bunt attempts, then sent a 2-2 breaking ball into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left field to put them in front for the second time.
Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless eighth to get the victory. Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth to earn the save, striking out Justin Upton to end it.
That started a raucous celebration on the field by the Dodgers, who rushed toward the mound in a mob. They tore jerseys off each other in unbridled excitement and doused Uribe with a bright-colored sports drink.
The Braves took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on pinch-hitter Jose Constanza’s RBI single off reliever Ronald Belisario.
The Dodgers gambled in bringing back Kershaw on three days’ rest for the first time in his career. But with a chance to close out the series, they opted for their ace over scheduled starter Ricky Nolasco. The move paid off when the 2011 Cy Young Award winner tossed six solid innings before turning it over to the bullpen.
Kershaw squandered a 2-0 lead, giving up two unearned runs and three hits. He struck out six and walked one on 91 pitches.
With one out in the seventh, Elliot Johnson tripled into the right-field corner, sending Puig sliding into the dirt chasing the ball as it caromed off the wall. Constanza, batting for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia, singled into center, scoring Johnson to put the Braves ahead for the first time.
Garcia allowed two runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.
The Braves tied it 2-all in the fourth, when the Dodgers’ defense faltered.
Chris Johnson’s RBI single scored Freddie Freeman, who singled leading off, went to second on first baseman Adrian Gonzalez’s throwing error and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Kershaw.
Andrelton Simmons grounded into a fielder’s choice to third in what should have been an inning-ending double play, but second baseman Mark Ellis’ throw to Gonzalez went wide and Evan Gattis scored from third.
Crawford’s second homer of the game came in the third, landing deep in the lower right-field seats for a 2-0 lead.
Crawford led off the first with a towering home run to the right-field pavilion, smiling broadly as the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead. His three-run shot — and Uribe’s two-run drive — were a big part of their 13-6 victory in Game 3 on Sunday.
The sellout crowd of 54,438 grew rowdy with Kershaw’s first pitch, quickly getting on its feet to urge him on after Gonzalez’s fielding error led to the left-hander’s first baserunner. Kershaw responded by retiring the next three batters in a row to end the first.
NOTES: The Dodgers lost in five games to Philadelphia four years ago in the NLCS. ... The last Dodgers pitcher to start on short rest in the playoffs was Derek Lowe, who allowed two runs and six hits in five innings of a no-decision in Game 4 of the NLCS on Oct. 13, 2008, against Philadelphia. ... Crawford’s leadoff homer was the second in Dodgers postseason history. Davey Lopes homered leading off Game 6 of the 1978 World Series. He’s now the first base coach for the team. ... Kershaw allowed seven unearned runs during the regular season, all of them at Dodger Stadium.