Braves’ Soler comes back after absence due to COVID

LOS ANGELES — The Atlanta Braves welcomed back outfielder Jorge Soler for Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday after he was sidelined following a positive COVID-19 test.

Soler struck out as a pinchhitter in the eighth inning of an 11-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, his first at-bat of the series.

The Braves still lead 3-2 in the best-of-sev- en playoff. Game 6 is Saturday in Atlanta, where the NL East champion Braves get two more chances to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1999.

Soler hit a combined .223 with 27 homers and 70 RBIs for Kansas City and Atlanta during the regular season.

“That’s a great weapon off the bench,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before the game.

Soler, who is vaccinated, was pulled from the lineup for Game 4 of the NL Division Series against Milwaukee last week. The Braves beat the Brewers 5-4 to clinch the bestof-five playoff.

Soler was part of the dramatic outfield makeover orchestrated by general manager Alex Anthopoulos after the Braves lost Ronald Acuña Jr. to a seasonending knee injury and Marcell Ozuna to a hand injury and legal troubles.

Anthopoulos first acquired Joc Pederson and then added Soler, Eddie Rosario and Adam Duvall near the July 30 trade deadline.