The Los Angeles Dodgers took the series rubber match from the Tampa Bay Rays, led by a strong start from Gavin Stone and home runs by Kiké Hernández and Mookie Betts.
Stone held the Rays to just one run as he got through seven innings. The right-hander finished with seven strikeouts but did not factor into the decision due to exiting with the game tied.
Stone’s 10 quality starts this season ranks third among all rookie pitchers, and are second on the Dodgers staff. Tyler Glasnow leads the Dodgers with 14 quality starts this year.
The Dodgers had given Stone a slim lead to work with when Hernández lined a solo home run out to left-center field in the fifth inning. The homer was Hernández’s second of the series and ninth this season.
Kiké took away a run and drove in a run today.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/gJ3j8iqpUS— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 25, 2024
Great moment for Hunter Feduccia to record his first MLB hit.
(🎥: @SportsNetLA) pic.twitter.com/6ZESK6XTNf— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 25, 2024
Mookie Betts with the clutch homer.
(🎥: @SportsNetLA) pic.twitter.com/hfoUF9WnvQ— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 25, 2024
"Kobe" chant was going up as Anthony Banda closed out the #DodgersWin! @LakersNation
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/m2K47ecAkb— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 25, 2024
Then with the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Betts put the Dodgers ahead for good by ambushing the first pitch from Richard Lovelady for a two-run homer. Betts’ home run came on the heels of Shohei Ohtani avoiding injury despite being hit by a pitch in his left wrist/forearm.
Fans chanted “Kobe!” as Anthony Banda completed the save. The Dodgers distributed a Kobe Bryant jersey in a baseball design and set to his famed Black Mamba theme to cap off Lakers Weekend at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers maintaining NL West lead
While the Dodgers lost a comfortable lead in the division, they still remain in first place in the National League West even as the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres both continue to pull off improbable wins.
The Dodgers head into Monday’s off day three games ahead of the Diamondbacks and 4.5 in front of the Padres.
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