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Dialuna 18 OctOber 2021

Riley’s game-winning single in 9th lifts Braves past Dodgers

Riley’s big game was espe- Albies’ groundout and scored Snitker said. “Max just kept
cially important as Braves on Knebel’s wild pitch to Ri- pitching.”
first baseman Freddie Free- ley.
man struck out four times COUNTING Ks
against four different Los The Dodgers, who won 18 Snitker was surprised to learn
Angeles pitchers after having more games than Atlanta his hitters had 14 strikeouts
only one four-strikeout game during the regular season, in the game.
in the regular season. pulled even in the second on
AJ Pollock’s two-out double “I had no idea we struck out
Atlanta manager Brian Snit- and Taylor’s RBI single. that many times,” he said.
ker said Riley has proven he “I’m not sitting there with a
can take that lead role. Will Smith’s homer in the clicker.”
fourth, his third of the post-
“I think that kid has definitely season, gave the Dodgers Braves RHP Ian Ander-
taken the next step forward,” a 2-1 lead. Riley’s two-out son faces Dodgers ace Max
Snitker said. homer off Tony Gonsolin in Scherzer in Game 2.
(AP) — A couple of clutch Albies told first-base coach the fourth tied it.
swings from breakout Eric Young Sr. he would be The teams are meeting in the Scherzer was tentatively
slugger Austin Riley got taking off to steal second so NL Championship Series The Dodgers outhit the scheduled to start Game 1
the underdog Atlanta he could get in scoring posi- for the second consecutive Braves 10-6 but left run- even though he earned his
Braves off to a fast start tion. season. The Dodgers rallied ners on base in each of the first career save to close out
in the NL Championship from a 3-1 deficit to win last first seven innings except the Thursday night’s deciding
Series. “I knew (Riley) was going to year’s playoff in seven games fourth. Los Angeles hitters Game 5 of the Dodgers’ NL
do the job,” Albies said. before also winning the were 1 for 8 with runners in Division Series win over San
Riley homered and drove in World Series. scoring position. Francisco. He was pushed
the winning run with a single “As soon as he hit it, I took off. back because he expects to be
in the bottom of the ninth I started yelling, screaming all Game 2 is Sunday night “We prevented runs all night. at full strength following an-
inning to give Atlanta a 3-2 the way to home plate.” in Atlanta before the series So we didn’t not win the other day of rest.
victory over the Los Angeles shifts to Los Angeles. game because we didn’t pre-
Dodgers in Game 1 on Sat- Riley also homered in the vent runs,” Dodgers manager Scherzer has pitched 12 1/3
urday night. fourth. The third baseman The wild-card Dodgers Dave Roberts said. “We just innings over three appear-
set career highs across the wasted a scoring opportunity didn’t get the hits when we ances in the playoffs, allow-
Blake Treinen struck out board for NL East champion in the top of the ninth. Will needed.” ing two runs and six hits with
Freddie Freeman to open the Atlanta this year in his third Smith got two outs before 16 strikeouts. Scherzer, who
ninth before giving up Ozzie major league season, batting walking Chris Taylor. Pinch- No Braves pitcher posted pitched for Washington for
Albies’ bloop single to center .303 with 33 homers, 107 hitter Cody Bellinger hit a a perfect inning until the six-plus seasons in the NL
field. Albies stole second and RBIs and an .898 OPS in a soft single to right field, but eighth, when Luke Jackson East before he was traded to
Riley followed with his line league-leading 160 games. Taylor got caught and tagged got three consecutive outs. the Dodgers this season, is
drive into the left-field cor- out in a rundown between very familiar with the Braves’
ner. “He’s come a long way in a second and third that started Justin Turner, who was 2 lineup, which he said “first
short time, I feel like. Even with right fielder Joc Ped- for 24 in the Dodgers’ first and foremost starts with
“That was my mindset — put last year, I think that he didn’t erson’s throw to shortstop two postseason rounds, had Freddie Freeman.”
something in play and see have all these tools. He can Dansby Swanson. one hit. Albert Pujols was
what happens,” Riley said af- beat you in so many ways held without a hit on three “Hands down, he’s the
ter delivering the first walk- now, and he always had that “I thought if he would have groundouts before popping best hitter I’ve had to face,”
off hit of his career. power, but now he’s putting kept going, he might have out in the ninth. Scherzer said. “And I love
together such good at-bats,” had a chance at third,” Riley facing him because that’s
The 24-year-old slugger Dodgers infielder Trea Turn- said. “But that was a great MIGHTY MAX who you measure yourself
spread his arms in celebra- er said. play by Dansby. Just being Braves starter Max Fried gave against when you have to face
tion as he rounded first base able to get out of that inning up two runs and eight hits in the best.”
before getting mobbed by “He’s a polished hitter and there was huge.” six innings. He threw 23 con-
teammates in a happy swarm hats off to him because I secutive strikes, the most in a Anderson is 3-0 with a 0.76
that carried into shallow cen- think he’s gotten to the point Corey Knebel worked one postseason game in 20 years, ERA in five career postsea-
ter field. where he’s been a really good inning as the Dodgers’ open- according to the Elias Sports son starts. He pitched five
player and there’s a reason er in a bullpen game, giving Bureau. innings, allowing only three
“You dream of that as a little why fans are chanting MVP up one run. Eddie Rosario hits without a walk, in a 3-0
kid,” Riley said. for him.” led off with a single, stole “I don’t know that Max really win over Milwaukee in the
second, moved to third on felt like he was on tonight,” Division Series.

Ulsan tops Jeonbuk, advances to Asian Champions League semis

(AP) — Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i Georgian midfielder Valeri Qazaish- feated Persepolis of Iran 3-0 in Ri-
defeated Jeonbuk Hyundai Mo- vili put Ulsan ahead after 13 minutes Next up for Ulsan is a semifinal on yadh thanks to two goals from former
tors 3-2 in an Asian Champions at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, only Wednesday against Pohang Steelers, France international striker Bafetimbi
League quarterfinal on Sunday to for Han Kyo-won to level for Jeon- another South Korean opponent. Gomis and a long-range strike from
stay on course for a second suc- buk, champions in 2006 and 2016. Salem Al-Dawsari.
cessive continental title. Pohang, aiming for a record fourth
Just before the break, Yun Il-lok re- Asian title, defeated Nagoya Gram- Al-Hilal will face Riyadh rival Al-
Ulsan, which also won in 2012, need- stored Ulsan’s lead. It didn’t last long pus of Japan 3-0. Nassr in Tuesday’s semifinal. Al-
ed extra-time to beat its South Kore- with Jeonbuk hitting back, this time Nassr, in its first game under new
an rival. through Takahiro Kunimoto early in Lim Sang-hyub opened the scoring Portuguese coach Pedro Emanuel,
the second half. eight minutes into the second half thrashed Al-Wahda of the United
Knockout ties in the tournament and with 20 minutes remaining, Lee Arab Emirates 5-1.
have been reduced to a single game After 101 minutes, South Korea in- Seung-mo added a second. Lim’s sec-
from the usual two-legged encoun- ternational Lee Dong-gyeong hit the ond in injury time sealed the victory. The final will take place in Riyadh.
ters due to the pandemic. winner with a fierce shot from out-
side the area. Three-time champion Al-Hilal de-