Forty years ago Friday, the Dodgers were about to finish off a homestand, and surging atop the National League West, having won six games in a row. The last three of those wins were against the fifth-place Braves, and Thursday, August 15, 1985 was the finale of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Fernando Valenzuela started for the Dodgers, having won his last six decisions and only a few weeks removed from winning National League pitcher of the month in July. He also won the honor in April, and entered this start third in the NL with a 2.