Machado and Dodgers finish Braves in NLDS with 6-2 win

ATLANTA (AP) – The Los Angeles Dodgers have completed all the actions expected after winning a playoff series.

They released t-shirts and caps. They posed for photos in the middle of SunTrust Park. They sprayed themselves with beer in the clubhouse.

Then they focused on bigger goals.

For a team packed with power that has not won a global series since 1988, nothing less will do the trick.

"We all know that there is still a lot of work to be done," said Dave Roberts, coach of the Dodgers, after his team defeated the Atlanta Braves by a 6-2 win Monday in NL Division Series. "We still have eight wins to win."

Manny Machado scored a three-run homer and David Freese was again successful in the playoffs to lead the Dodgers in the NL Championship Championship for the third year in a row. Los Angeles then faced the Brewers after beating the Baby Braves 3-1 in the Top-Five Series.

The first game will take place on Friday night in Milwaukee, the fourth round of the Dodgers championships in six seasons.

"We have prepared to arrive here," said Machado, "and we will not stop until we get what we want."

Of course, this is precisely what the Dodgers had in mind when they strengthened their already well-stocked lineup by acquiring the shortstop – and the future free agent – from the modest Baltimore in July.

Machado had only three hits in the series, but two of them were circuits with six RBIs. He scored the Dodgers' double in Game 4, scoring twice in the opening game, and concluded the series with rookie Chad Sobotka in the seventh inning, clearing the Dodgers marker on the left.

"We expect so much from him," Roberts said. "We have a lot of good players, but I can not say enough about his concentration and preparation."

After a tense win in Game 3, the Baby Braves took advantage over the two-point single from Kurt Suzuki, the kicker-kicker-striker, to fourth.

But Freese, the most valuable player of the 2011 World Series with St. Louis, fought back with a single single in sixth place Brad Brach, coaching Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig for a 3-2 lead.

& # 39; & # 39; You just have to be ready, "Freese said. & # 39; & # 39; Whether you're in high school, college, whatever, get ready. You do not have to be the best player in the world, you do not have to earn as much money as possible, but you will have a chance to do something cool. I learned this early in my career. I'm just trying to stay with her. & # 39; & # 39;

Ryan Madson took the win by getting the last two outs of the fifth to escape a bottled base. The Braves' last gasp came in the eighth, when Lucas Duda's coach in the second bridge derailed to the right on Kenta Maeda. Duda flew to end the run and Atlanta sank to the ninth.

The return of the Braves in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 gave a familiar result.

Atlanta lost nine straight games in the playoffs, its last win 17 years ago against a team that is no longer in the National League. Since sweeping the Houston Astros in the 2001 NL Division Series, October is a month of misery for the Braves.

Back to the playoffs earlier than expected after a massive rebuilding, Atlanta just did not have the experience, the depth, or the power to stick to the mighty Dodgers. Los Angeles recorded a record 235 runs in the regular season and eight more against the Braves, 14 of its 20 points.

Tinseltown became Boomtown.

"It's a very powerful team," said Braves manager Brian Snitker. & # 39; & # 39; That 's what they did all year, that' s knocking at home. We are not yet built like that. & # 39; & # 39;

Los Angeles also took advantage of Atlanta's fragile defense in their deciding round. Puig maintained sixth place with a popup on defeat of loser Jonny Venters, falling between second baseman Ozzie Albies and right-field player Nick Markakis.

Puig stole second place without a shot and came home when backup saver Charlie Culberson failed to knock off Freese's strong goal scorer in the middle. A super-submarine in the regular season, Culberson had to start in the playoffs because of an injury to Dansby Swanson.

"They played baseball better than us," Culberson said.

WILD STARTERS

Rich Hill of the Dodgers made five innings in 4 1/3, including a pair leading from fifth to a single Suzuki single. Mike Foltynewicz of Atlanta scored four innings (an intentional) in four innings before being relieved.

The story continues