The Braves hung on and survived a major rally by the Dodgers in the bottom of the 9th to take a 2-0 lead in the NLCS with an 8-7 victory.

The Braves looked in excellent shape heading into the bottom of the 9th with an 8-3 lead. They had been knocking the cover off the ball and 25 year old starter Ian Anderson was terrific again. But bottom 9 was disastrous for a while.

Manager Brian Snitker, trying to preserve his bullpen, particularly closer Mark Melnacon, put in veteran Josh Tomlin to close out the game, but had Melancon warming up in case there was trouble. I thought it was a smart move because this series could be extended and you’ll need your closer ready if it is.

But Tomlin got hammered. After 1 out, Mookie Betts singled to left, Corey Seager doubled to right to drive Betts in and cut the lead to 8-4. Justin Turner struck out swinging, but Max Muncy launched a fastball 404 feet into the right field seats to cut the lead to 8-6. Snitker then called on Melancon to get the third out and preserve a much needed victory. Melancon got Will Smith to hit a grounder to second. It was hit pretty hard but at 2nd baseman Ozzie Albies. Albies, who hit a homer earlier in the game, booted it, tried to pick it up, but dropped the ball again, and couldn’t throw Smith out , as Smith was hustling down the line. So Melancon should have closed it out, but Cody Bellinger then tripled to deep right to score Smith and cut the lead to 8-7. With the pressure firmly entrenched and the tying run at third and the go ahead run at the plate, a guy who was capable of hitting it out and crushing the Braves’ spirit potentially, Melancon finally got A. J. Pollack to ground out to third on nice pick and throw by 3rd baseman Austin Riley. So it was a W and, most importantly, a 2-0 lead in the series. Braves are doing what they do best, knocking the baseball all over the park.

Today

Dodgers vs. Braves

Braves home team and will bat last, which is always a good thing. Braves lead 2-0.

Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

5:05 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Pitchers

Julio Urias, Dodgers, 3-0, 3.27 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, Walks plus hits per inning, good stat. Anything 1.10 or under is excellent. 1.15 is solid.

Kyle Wright, Braves, 2-4, 5.21 ERA, 1.55 WHIP

This might seem like a pitching mismatch, but Wright, after struggling for a couple of years with the Braves trying to break in the rotation, has come into his own. In his last 3 outings this season, he’s gone 6.1 innings against the Mets, giving up only 1 hit, with a walk and 6 K’s. His next outing against the Red Sox, he went 6.2, gave up 2 hits, 2 runs, with 3 walks and 4 K’s. And last Thursday vs the Marlins in the close out game of the NLDS, he went 6, gave up 3 hits, 0 runs, with 2 walks and 7 K’s. He’s got electric stuff. I know Kyle well from his days at Vanderbilt. He is a terrific talent. Throws it 95-96, has a nice 89, 90 MPH slider, can throw a pretty good curve and has a solid changeup. So, the Braves have a good shot with Wright on the mound. He’s from Huntsville, AL.

In Urias’s last start against the Padres in the NLDS last Thursday, he pitched 5, gave up 1 hit, 1 run, which was unearned, with he walked 1 and struck-out 6. So he’s a tough customer. He’s a lefty and Wright is a righty.

Should be a stellar game.

Braves win 4-3, as they take a 3-0 lead in the series.

Rays-Astros

Rays lead the series, 3-0.

Petco Field, San Diego

7:40 PM CT , TBS

I like the Rays to close it out in this game today. Stud lefty Tyler Glasnow,a stellar bullpen, along with terrific defense and timely hitting get it done once again for the Rays as they move onto the Fall Classic which starts next Tuesday Night at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Rays 4, Astros 1

Also Tonight

Coastal Carolina (3-0) @ No.21 Louisiana (3-0)

Cajun Field, Lafayette, LA.

6:30 CT

ESPN

Chris Cotter, Eric Mac Lain, Lericia Harris

Ragin Cajuns by 9

I love what former Alabama wide receivers coach Billy Napier is doing at Louisiana. He has developed a super football program and excellent team this season. He’s a tremendous coach and his future is extremely bright. Give me the Ragin’ Cajuns, who have defeated Iowa State on the road, 31-17, the first game of the season. Coastal defeated Kansas in the first game on the road, 38-23, and they’re solid, but give me Napier and his Ragin’ Cajuns to get it done at home tonight. The game was rescheduled from last Saturday due to Hurricane Delta.

Ragin Cajuns 37, Coastal Carolina 27

Last Week, 10-8

Overall: 66-32, 67%