The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off their weekend series against the Atlanta Braves with a gritty 3-1 victory Friday night at Dodger Stadium, proving once again why these two National League powerhouses always deliver drama. It wasn't a flashy win, but sometimes doing just enough is all it takes.

Chris Sale was tough on the Dodgers' bats, holding them to just five hits over seven innings. But Los Angeles made every one count. In the second inning, Teoscar Hernández singled, and Kyle Tucker followed with a double to bring him home. The game stayed tight until the fifth, when Miguel Rojas reached on an error and, with two outs, Shohei Ohtani came through with a go-ahead single. That gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night, and the energy in the stadium shifted.

Then came Freddie Freeman. In the sixth inning, the former Brave launched a solo home run—his 100th in a Dodgers uniform—adding crucial insurance. It was his first homer since April 6, snapping a 114-plate-appearance drought. Freeman's new closed stance seems to be working; this was his third straight game with an extra-base hit and his fourth in the last five. He joined elite company as the 37th player in franchise history to reach 100 homers with the Dodgers.

On the mound, Emmet Sheehan had something to prove. With Tyler Glasnow landing on the injured list Friday, the pressure of a potential rotation spot loss eased, but Sheehan still needed a strong outing after allowing two homers in a loss last Saturday. He started hot, touching 97 mph with his fastball in the first inning—his fastest pitch of the year—and averaged 96.1 mph in the opening frame. His velocity dipped as the game wore on, dropping to 92.4 mph in the fourth and 93.1 in the fifth, but he battled. Sheehan induced 14 swinging strikes (eight on the fastball), struck out seven, and walked just one over 4.2 innings, leaving with the game tied 1-1.

“There’s certainly some things we’re trying to figure out and tap into to increase [velocity], but at the end of the day it’s about getting outs,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. Sheehan got 14 of them, and the bullpen took it from there.

For Dodgers fans, this was a night of small victories—clutch hits, a milestone homer, and a starter showing resilience. It's the kind of win that builds momentum, especially with Blake Snell set to be activated Saturday. If you're looking to rep your team's grit, now's the time to gear up in Dodgers blue.