The Los Angeles Dodgers received a strong showing from Alex Wood and home runs by Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado and Yasmani Grandal to extend their winning streak to a season-high tying five games and complete a sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 3-1 victory at Globe Life Park.
Starting on extra rest paid off for Wood as he was efficient through five innings and navigated his way through traffic in the sixth. Wood allowed back-to-back singles with one out in the second but induced an inning-ending double play.
That marked the start of 10 consecutive batters retired in a row. Wood was through five innings on 50 pitches, and threw 29 in the sixth to strand a pair of runners and preserve the Dodgers’ 2-0 lead.
Despite laboring some, the southpaw was sent back out for the seventh. Wood issued a walk, his second of the night, but otherwise got through the inning without issue. Wood finished the night at seven shutout innings, holding the Rangers to four hits while collecting five strikeouts.
The outing was Wood’s longest since he also went seven innings against the Chicago Cubs on June 27.
The Dodgers built a lead for Wood behind Bellinger’s solo home run in the third inning, and Machado ambushing Mike Minor’s first pitch in the fourth for his 31st homer of the season. It was a swift turn of events for Minor and the Rangers as he started the game by retiring the first 10 batters faced.
Grandal broke out of his recent skid with a solo shot in the eighth, which provided insurance for Scott Alexander and Kenta Maeda. The save was Maeda’s first this season and second of his career.
Maeda issued a walk, allowed an RBI double to Adrian Beltre, and faced the winning run at the plate before wrapping the game up.
Although it was a save situation, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts elected to stay away from Kenley Jansen. The All-Star closer has endured his share of struggles since returning from the disabled list, and one such appearance came Tuesday in a non-save situation.
Jansen explained he’s no longer taking heart medication that made him lethargic and hopes to soon get back to his usual self.
