Dodgers improve to 7-0 behind Dustin May after beating winless Braves 3-1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dustin May pitched five strong innings after missing nearly two years, Mookie Betts hit his third go-ahead homer of the season and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the winless Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Tuesday night.

With a 7-0 mark, the defending World Series champions are off to the club's best start since moving to Los Angeles. The only better starts in franchise history came in 1955 (10-0) and 1940 (9-0) when the team was located in Brooklyn.

The slumping Braves fell to 0-6 for the first time since opening 0-9 in 2016.

May allowed just one hit and an unearned run. He struck out six and walked three in his first start since May 17, 2023. The right-hander missed last season while rehabbing from a torn flexor tendon in his right arm. In 2023, his season ended with Tommy John revision surgery.

Anthony Banda (2-0) got the win with one inning of scoreless relief. Tanner Scott earned his second save.

Betts' throwing error at shortstop in the second led to Atlanta's lone run.

The center-field flags were blowing straight out on a windy night when Betts' two-run homer just cleared the left-field wall in the sixth. Also scoring was Shohei Ohtani, who singled leading off. The 2024 NL MVP has scored in each of the first seven games.

The Dodgers have homered in six straight.

They couldn't buy a baserunner for five innings against reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale. After Betts' homer made it 2-1, Tommy Edman singled to knock out Sale (0-1) and scored on Will Smith's single. The left-hander gave up four hits, struck out five and walked none.

The Braves designated 41-year-old reliever Jesse Chavez for assignment and added right-hander Zach Thompson to the roster.

Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández made a terrific catch of Drake Baldwin's drive leading off the seventh. He waited on the ball while security scattered, then leaned over the lower wall in right, snagging the ball in his glove. His momentum carried him over the wall, but he sprang to his feet holding his glove in the air as the crowd cheered.

The Dodgers tied the 1933 New York Yankees for the longest unbeaten streak by a reigning World Series winner to start a season.

Braves RHP Bryce Elder gets the ball for the first time this season in the series finale Wednesday. LHP Blake Snell (1-0, 3.60 ERA) makes his second start for the Dodgers.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a base hit against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dustin May jumps in the air after striking out the side against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dustin May is congratulated in the dugout after striking out the side against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Atlanta Braves' Chris Sale throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits a ground out against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Dustin May throws against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts hits a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.

Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.

The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.

Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.

Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.

New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.

The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.

Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.

Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.

Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)