▲ Tarik Skubal started Game 1 of the NLDS.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, pursuing their third consecutive World Series title, started their postseason campaign with a victory.
The Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS, best-of-five) held at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on October 4.
Starting "championship closer" Tarik Skubal on the mound, the Dodgers drew first blood in the bottom of the 4th inning when Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run home run.
Atlanta clawed back a run in the top of the 6th inning as Sean Murphy hit a solo home run to center.
However, following a change of sides, the Dodgers quickly extended their lead to 5-1 as Kyle Tucker launched a two-run homer and Max Muncy followed with a solo shot.
Atlanta added a two-run homer by Ozzie Albies in the top of the 9th inning, but could not complete the comeback.
Kim Ha-seong, starting as Atlanta's ninth-hitter and shortstop, went hitless in 1 at-bat with 1 walk.
After striking out swinging in the top of the 3rd inning, Kim drew a walk to reach base in the top of the 6th.
He was substituted for pinch hitter Lane Thomas during the top of the 8th inning attack.
Skubal, whom the Dodgers acquired right before the trade deadline in early August, pitched 6 innings allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run while striking out 7 batters to earn the win.
Kim Hye-sung, who was sent down to the minor leagues in late May, was surprisingly included in the Dodgers' 26-man NLDS roster for the day but remained on the bench without seeing playing time.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who advanced to the postseason as the top seed in the National League, secured a 3-2 comeback victory against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their NLDS.
San Diego capitalized on Milwaukee starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski in the top of the 2nd inning by stringing together 3 hits to score 2 runs first.
Milwaukee tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the 3rd when Jackson Chourio hit a two-run home run.
With two outs in the bottom of the 7th inning, William Contreras smashed a decisive solo home run over the center field fence to turn the game around to 3-2.
Misiorowski, who is a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award this season, struck out 6 batters through 4 innings but was pulled early after giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk.
In Game 1 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), the top-seeded Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 1-0.
Tampa Bay scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 3rd when Jonathan Aranda hit a towering solo home run over the right-center field fence.
Tampa Bay starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen was the prime contributor to the victory, carrying a no-hitter until two outs in the top of the 8th inning and finishing 8 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts, 1 hit, and 2 walks.
The Yankees, suffering a 1-hit shutout loss, broke up the no-hitter with two outs in the top of the 8th when Austin Wells hit a extra-base hit down the right field line.
However, Wells was thrown out trying to stretch it aggressively into a third base, dampening the Yankees' chase momentum.
The Chicago White Sox won 3-0 against the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of their ALDS.
The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning when Japanese hitter Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run home run to right field.
They secured the momentum in the top of the 7th when Colson Montgomery added a run with a double.
Employing a bullpen day starting from Game 1, the White Sox combined for a team shutout using five pitchers, beginning with rookie starter Hagen Smith who pitched 2.2 scoreless innings with no hits, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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