Los Angeles Dodgers’ Alex Wood ambushed in return to Atlanta

12:23 AM ET

ATLANTA — If the Atlanta Braves had a plan to take advantage of Alex Wood’s emotions in his first start against them, they were not about to reveal it.

Wood, who was sent by the Braves to the Los Angeles Dodgers at last year’s non-waiver trade deadline, struggled with fastball command and barely lasted four innings in the Dodgers’ 8-1 loss to the last-place Braves.

Atlanta pounced early in counts, collecting two runs in the first inning, two more in the third and another two in the fourth. What the Braves really benefited from were three errors from a typically sure-handed Dodgers team.

Alex Wood had another off-night as he lasted just four innings and gave up six runs (three earned) to the Braves. AP Photo/David Goldman

The Braves’ Tyler Flowers, who had four hits to match a career high, wouldn’t claim to something as sinister as taking advantage of a pitcher in an emotional start.

“I didn’t hear that strategy thrown around, although I do a pitchers meeting instead of a hitters meeting, so maybe it was said in there,” Flowers said with a grin. “When guys have a good approach — especially against a lefty that likes to throw hard in a lot, with the purpose of getting you out soft away — when you can stay within yourself and let him have that inside corner, that keeps all the pitches in play for you rather than ambush one fastball in.”

The angle of the former player returning home was lost on Flowers anyway. He is in his first year in Atlanta after playing with the Chicago White Sox.

For Wood, the concept was front and center. Manager Dave Roberts even admitted that the occasion was …

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