The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a fourth consecutive series loss as they defeated the Chicago White Sox in a rubber match on Thursday, thanks to the heroics of Chris Taylor and Freddie Freeman.
Chicago took an early 2-0 lead when Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jiménez hit back-to-back homers off Michael Grove with two outs in the first inning. They then doubled their lead with another pair of back-to-back shots in the fourth inning, with Jake Burher and Andrew Vaughn supplying the power.
The Dodgers remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when Will Smith, David Peralta and James Outman singled to load the bases. With two outs, Taylor blasted a grand slam to tie the game.
The home run was the 100th of Taylor’s career.
TAYLOR GRAND SLAM WILL KNOCK YOUR SOX OFF. pic.twitter.com/WqRHNkgCNp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 16, 2023
Chris Taylor doing it all. pic.twitter.com/JYvBMNwpdG
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 16, 2023
Walk it off, Freddie! pic.twitter.com/La31JcqECO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 16, 2023
Victory formation!
Dodgers x @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/7QKx60riY8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 16, 2023
The game remained tied and went into extra innings. After a scoreless 10th inning from both sides, the White Sox once again failed to put up any runs in the 11th.
However, the Dodgers began to rally. With the extra runner already on, the Dodgers loaded the bases behind walks by Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts.
Then, on a 3-1 count, Freeman lifted a fly ball to the warning track in center field that traveled 356 feet and landed for a walk-off RBI single. Although it was short of another grand slam, it was enough to give the Dodgers the walk-off win with the outfield playing shallow, and no shot to throw out Taylor at home even if it was caught.
The walk-off single from Freeman ended the game at 5-4 in the 11th as he was mobbed by teammates near first base.
Dodgers bullpen shuts down White Sox
Grove started the gave and gave up four home runs over five innings while adding seven strikeouts. It was not an ideal outing for Grove, who now has an 8.10 ERA.
But following him, Shelby Miller pitched two scoreless innings, Yency Almonte worked a perfect frame, Evan Phillips threw two shutout innings and Caleb Ferguson earned the win with a perfect 11th.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called on the bullpen to be better following a blown game on Wednesday, and the relief crew stepped up in their first opportunity to do.
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