Full Breakdown
Braves Walk Off Dodgers in 6-5 Thriller at Truist Park
8/27/2026, 11:45:30 AM
Game Summary
On August 26, 2026, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on a walk-off single by pinch-hitter Ha-Seong Kim. The decisive hit came with two outs in the bottom of the ninth after the Braves loaded the bases and intentionally walked Austin Riley to set up the force play. Kim, who had a .066 batting average for the season, lined a fastball to left field for the winning run. The loss dropped the Dodgers to a two-game deficit behind the Braves for the National League’s top two playoff seeds.
Background & Context
The matchup was the second game of a three-game series between two NL division leaders. The Dodgers entered the game having recently swept a two-game series and were seeking to avoid a three-game sweep by Atlanta. Both clubs were jockeying for the best record in the National League, with the Braves’ win narrowing the gap to two games behind the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
Data & Statistics
- Home runs: Matt Olson (Atlanta) hit his 37th of the season; Sean Murphy (Atlanta) recorded his first; Tommy Edman (Los Angeles) added his fifth.
- Key extra-base hits: Freddie Freeman’s double in the third was his 578th career double, tying Hall of Famer Wade Boggs for 24th on the all-time list.
- Pitching notes: Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki exited after 3 1/3 innings due to a blister on his right middle finger; Victor Mederos (Atlanta) closed with a perfect ninth.
- Defensive misplay: Teoscar Hernández’s error on a fly ball to left field allowed two runs in the fourth inning, shifting the lead to Atlanta.
Official Statements & Responses
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addressed the loss in the post-game interview. He described Sasaki’s finger injury as “a pretty good blister” and noted that the injury forced the right-hander onto the injured list.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was a pretty good blister,” — Dave Roberts, manager
- “Balls typically that go into the corner … will go back to the field,” — Dave Roberts, manager
- “Creating traffic, getting guys on base is one part of the equation,” — Dave Roberts, manager
- “I thought we had a really good chance to win this game,” — Dave Roberts, manager
What’s Next
The Dodgers will host the Braves again on Thursday, aiming to even the series before traveling to Detroit for a weekend series against the Tigers. Atlanta will look to extend its lead in the NL race with the next game.
