The Los Angeles Dodgers managed to avoid being swept by the Houston Astros with a 6-2 win on Sunday that featured home runs from James Outman, Gavin Lux and Teoscar Hernández.
The long balls helped back Dodgers prospect River Ryan as he earned the first win of his young career. Ryan took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, when he gave up a leadoff double.
Ryan nearly got through six scoreless innings but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a pitching change with one runner on and two outs. The decision was eerily similar to one Roberts faced on Saturday, when he took Justin Wrobleski out of the game and later acknowledged that changed the momentum.
It was déjà vu in the series finale as Alex Vesia’s first pitch was hit for a home run. Vesia retired the next batter faced and the Dodgers upheld a lead that the offense continued to add onto.
The no-hitter, shutout and baseball are all gone.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/v028JcF5Jn— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 28, 2024
River roaring.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/JefHyb6Saf— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 28, 2024
Slugging second baseman Gavin Lux.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/3mKkG9mJFa— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 28, 2024
Pay that man his money!
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/P2azglQtUB— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 28, 2024
Shohei Ohtani's career-high 27th stolen base of the year.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/RJYj15TCnu— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) July 28, 2024
The Dodgers initially struggled against Astros rookie Spencer Arrighetti, who had a no-hitter until Outman’s solo home run in the fifth inning.
Lux, the reigning National League Player of the Week, added onto what’s been a hot stretch with a two-run homer in the sixth. Lux finished 1-for-2 with three walks in a second consecutive game batting third in the Dodgers lineup due to Freddie Freeman being on the family emergency list.
Hernández provided insurance with a leadoff home run in the eighth inning and Cavan Biggio contributed with an RBI single. Jason Heyward’s sacrifice fly in the ninth capped off the Dodgers’ scoring.
Dodgers trade deadline
As the Dodgers head into an off day, much of the attention shifts to the MLB trade deadline at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
The team appears to be focused on starting pitching and the outfield, but addressing the bullpen and potentially trading for a third baseman are ares of concern for the Dodgers as well.
Garrett Crochet, Tarik Skubal, Tanner Scott, Nico Hoerner, Tommy Edman, Luis Rengifo and Jack Flaherty are among the reported Dodgers trade targets for the 2024 deadline.
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