LOS ANGELES — At the start of the week, the Atlanta Braves had yet to lose back-to-back games this season.
Now they're trying to avoid being swept for the first time this year, having lost five of their past seven games, including two straight to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Max Muncy had the first three-homer game of his MLB career and totaled four RBIs, Shohei Ohtani had three hits and became the franchise leader for most home runs by a Japanese-born player, and the Dodgers rolled to an 11-2 victory over the Braves on Saturday night.
"Tonight was a cool night for me all around," said Muncy, who had four hits. "We got the series win, which is more important to me than anything. (Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler) Glasnow was amazing tonight. A lot of quality at-bats up and down the lineup. It was fun to watch."
Freddie Freeman also had three hits for the Dodgers (22-13), who have won four of their past five games and have a 4 1/2-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres in the National League West Division. Rookie outfielder Andy Pages, who had the winning hit in the 11th inning of Friday's 4-3 victory, also went deep as Los Angeles had five homers.
Glasnow (6-1) struck out 10 batters and became the second pitcher in the majors to reach six wins this season. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits as he went at least seven innings for the third time this year.
"He continues to pick us up and be that top-end guy we expect him to be," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "He attacked the zone and was efficient all night. To get through that seventh inning was huge."
Ronald Acuña Jr. had three hits for the Braves (20-11), who are 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East, but Ozzie Albies had a 15-game hitting streak snapped. Austin Riley and Orlando Arcia had RBIs.
Muncy's two-run shot in the the second off Bryce Elder (1-1) after Will Smith drew a leadoff walk snapped an 0-for-9 skid at the plate. The third baseman added solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings to become the first Dodgers player since Trayce Thompson on April 1, 2023, to have a three-homer game.
"I've hit two plenty of times, but when you're up there the last at-bat, the third one is always in your head," Muncy said.
Ohtani, sixth in the majors with a .345 batting average, led off the third with a drive into the right-center field stands to make it 3-0. It was Ohtani's eighth of the season — the first with the Dodgers for the two-time American League MVP — and surpassed his manager for most homers by a Japanese-born player.
"Relieved," Ohtani said with a smile about surpassing the mark.
Ohtani's RBI single was part of a four-run fourth and chased Elder, who allowed seven runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
"Probably just location for the most part, he wasn't getting ahead, and too many walks. He wasn't real sharp," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Elder, making his third start of the season. "We had been pitching well. Our starters had been going deep. You get into those ruts, and it's a powerful team we're facing."
Mookie Betts added a two-run single in the seventh as Albies was unable to snag the bloop hit into right field.
Before the game, Atlanta put right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 1, with elbow inflammation. Right-hander Jackson Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett and left-hander Angel Perdomo was transferred to the 60-day IL.
The series concludes Sunday with a matchup of lefties. Max Fried (2-0, 4.02 ERA) goes for Atlanta, while Los Angeles counters with James Paxton (3-0, 3.51 ERA).