The Los Angeles Dodgers received their 2024 World Series rings and overcame a strong performance from fellow champion Jack Flaherty in an 8-5 walk-off win in the 10th inning.
Flaherty had a no-hitter through the fourth inning before allowing a one-out flare single to Tommy Edman that put two runners on. A hit by pitch later loaded the bases with two outs, though Flaherty escaped the jam when Austin Barnes flied out to right field on a 2-0 pitch.
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That allowed the Tigers to remain ahead 2-0 thanks to solo home runs from Dillon Dingler and Gleyber Torres. But unfortunately for Detroit, Torres appeared to suffer a side injury on his homer in the third inning and was removed from the game.
Those home runs also were the only low points for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who set a new career high with 10 strikeouts. Yamamoto exited after five innings with the Dodgers trailing 2-0 because of Flaherty’s brilliance.
The Dodgers’ fortunes then changed in the sixth inning after Mookie Betts’ soft single was followed by Freddie Freeman going the other way for a game-tying home run.
The game remained tied into the eighth inning, when Betts ambushed the first pitch he saw from Will Vest for a solo home run. Betts’ drive had just enough carry to clear the fence in left-center field.
Betts’ go-ahead solo home run was upheld after the crew chief initiated an umpire review for potential fan interference. All eight runs the Dodgers have scored through the first two games against the Tigers have come via five homers.
Tanner Scott’s early struggles surfaced once again as he failed to protect the lead and was bailed out from allowing the Tigers to pull ahead by the Dodgers successfully challenging a bang-bang play at home plate.
Dingler’s slicing fly ball to left field landed in front of Michael Conforto on his diving attempt and rolled past him, allowing the Tigers to take a decided 5-3 lead in the 10th inning.
Conforto atoned for his misplay by starting the Dodgers’ comeback with a ground-rule RBI double to lead off the bottom of the 10th. Will Smith’s pinch-hit RBI single tied the game, and Betts delivered the walk-off home run.
The walk-off hit was Betts’ fourth of his Dodgers career.
Dodgers undefeated start
The Dodgers are 4-0 to begin a season for the first time since 1981, which ended with a World Series championship. They entered 3-0 for the first time since 2016.
This year is the Dodgers’ 68th season in Los Angeles, matching their total played in Brooklyn.
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