Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Austin Riley the hero for Braves in NLCS Game 1

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated 10/17/21

Austin Riley was the hero for the Atlanta Braves in their 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS on Saturday night in Atlanta.

The Braves scored first, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a wild pitch by Dodgers opener Corey Knebel. The Dodgers tied the game in the second on an RBI single by Chris Taylor.

Will Smith hit a tie-breaking solo home run for the Dodgers in the top of the fourth to make it 2-1, but the lead did not last long. Riley sent a ball over the left field wall in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Riley knocked in Ozzie Albies with a walk-off hit.

Austin Riley wins it!!! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/fjwi3xfo6M

— MLB (@MLB) October 17, 2021

Albies helped make things happen with a huge stolen base after singling, putting himself in scoring position. He probably would have been able to score from first on Riley’s hit into the corner, but the stolen base left no doubt.

The Dodgers decided to make it a bullpen game, using eight pitchers. They have been taxed by playing in the wild card game and then going five games in the NLDS against the Giants. Max Fried had a solid start for the Braves, allowing two runs over six innings.

The Braves have taken a big 1-0 lead entering Game 2 on Sunday. The Dodgers will lament getting 10 hits and only being able to push across two runs. Their poor baserunning in the ninth inning will probably stick with them as a major missed opportunity: