Carl Crawford’s three-run home run gives Dodgers early 4-2 lead in Game 3 of NLDS.

Carl Crawford‘s fourth career postseason home run — in his last three playoff series — brought the Dodgers back from down 2-1 in the second inning of Game 3 of their National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.

Crawford, a left-handed hitter, took advantage of a 2-2 slider that Braves right-hander Julio Teheran left over the middle of the plate, turning on the pitch and belting it over the right-field fence. The three-run home run put the Dodgers ahead 4-2.

Crawford’s last postseason home run came on Oct. 9, 2010 in the American League Division series against the Texas Rangers when he was playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2008, Crawford hit a pair of home runs for Tampa Bay in the franchise’s only World Series appearance against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu broke Teheran’s early shutout bid with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly on a low fly ball to right field. Juan Uribe advanced to third base on the sacrifice fly, and A.J. Ellis remained at first base, setting the stage for Crawford’s home run.

Crawford hit six home runs in his first season with the Dodgers, but only one after June 1.

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About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.