Skubal Blanks Braves Mostly, Dodgers Take NLDS Game 1 Lead

Tarik Skubal struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run, as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, according to ESPN. The Dodgers now lead the best-of-five series 1-0.

How hot was it at Dodger Stadium?

The game-time temperature reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), ESPN reported, just short of the Dodger Stadium record of 103 degrees set during Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. The feels-like temperature climbed to 105 degrees. Umpires drank water between innings, and fans used giveaway towels to shield their heads under a cloudless sky, per the outlet's account.

Game 1 by the numbers

• Temperature: 100°F game-time, 105°F feels-like, per ESPN.
• Skubal's line: 6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks.
• Final score: Dodgers 5, Braves 3.
• Strikeout mark: 63 strikeouts through his first seven postseason appearances, second-most behind Bob Gibson's 74, according to ESPN.

How did Skubal perform in his first home playoff start?

Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, started a postseason game at Dodger Stadium for the first time in his career. His earlier playoff starts came on the road with the Detroit Tigers, who traded him to Los Angeles before the Aug. 3 deadline, ESPN reported. The right-hander held Atlanta to one run and two hits while walking two.

"To go through six in these conditions I thought was fantastic," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, according to ESPN. "And I thought the bullpen did a fine job."

Who drove the Dodgers' offense?

Teoscar Hernandez, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy each homered for Los Angeles, according to ESPN's recap. The outlet did not provide a full inning-by-inning breakdown of the scoring beyond the final 5-3 margin and the home runs credited to those three players.

What did Skubal say about pitching in the heat?

Skubal, speaking after the win, credited fans who endured the conditions. "It was a ton of fun," he said, per ESPN. "I've got a lot of respect for the fans that came out and showed up today. It's not easy. It's 100 degrees. The sun was on us the entire game."

When is Game 2 and will the heat continue?

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday evening at Dodger Stadium. ESPN reported an extreme heat warning remains in effect for the area heading into that game. The series then shifts formats depending on scheduling for subsequent games, though ESPN's report did not specify dates beyond Game 2.

The Dodgers enter Game 2 looking to take a 2-0 series lead over Atlanta. Skubal's outing marked his first appearance of this postseason for Los Angeles since the trade-deadline move brought him over from Detroit, a deal ESPN noted was completed just before the Aug. 3 deadline.