The Los Angeles Dodgers had been slow to score through their first two games against the Boston Red Sox, but they reversed that trend on Sunday en route to completing a series sweep at Dodger Stadium with a 9-6 win.
Freddie Freeman sparked the Dodgers early with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning that cut their deficit in half. Gavin Lux then remained in a good rhythm at the plate as his RBI double tied the game.
Teoscar Hernández continued to ease any concern of lingering effects from winning the Home Run Derby as his solo shot gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
Lux added onto that with a solo home run in the fourth that gave him four consecutive at-bats with an extra-base hit. Lux finished the day 3-for-4.
What's hotter right now? The temperature or Freddie Freeman at the plate?
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/HAxITn6fzb— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 21, 2024
Three straight extra-base hits for Gavin Lux 👀
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/l8IV0CYBlg— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 21, 2024
Teo with his 20th of the season!
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/Lw02hZGhii— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
The Dodgers’ power display continued in the fifth inning behind back-to-back home runs from Austin Barnes and Shohei Ohtani. The homer was Barnes’ first of the season and it gave Ohtani a National League-leading 30th.
Gavin Lux on July 20-21, 2024, or prime Barry Bonds. Who are you taking?
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/pbJEyI890L— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
Austin Barnes silences the haters.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/KxnvIlfaGR— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
Shohei Ohtani, you are ridiculous.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/M6HRwrdj4f— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
It represented the seventh time this season the Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs, but the first instance Freeman was not part of.
Ohtani’s majestic drive went 473 feet and nearly was hit out of Dodger Stadium. It did land beyond the concourse in right-center field and dropped down below on the walkway.
Clayton is just like us being impressed by Shohei.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/6vWE1L3Ols— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
The #Dodgers threw a home run party to welcome Jason Heyward back.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/3feoALpxyS— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 22, 2024
“That was amazing. For a lefty to go up there, I’m speechless,” Clayton Kershaw said on the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. “I’ve never sen that before. That’s not even pulled. That’s right-center.”
Jason Heyward made an impact in his first game off the 10-day injured list by giving the Dodgers a season-high six home runs. While it appeared to be nothing more than breaking the game open, that loomed large as Evan Phillips allowed two runs in the ninth inning and exited with the bases loaded.
New Dodgers injury
For all of the positivity that came with sweeping a series, a new Dodgers injury emerged as Miguel Rojas was removed early because of right forearm tightness.
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