The Los Angeles Dodgers were three outs from remaining undefeated in three games against the Houston Astros, but Kenley Jansen failed to protect a three-run lead, resulting in a 7-5 loss.
Unlike the series opener at Minute Maid Park earlier this season, Saturday’s game was played without issue. Though, a drove of Dodgers fans greeted the Astros as their team busses arrived at Dodger Stadium hours before first pitch.
A “Houston cheats bang bang” banner circled overhead during Astros’ batting practice.
Houston didn’t appear affected by the noise, as George Springer opened the game with a double down the left-field line. Kiké Hernandez made a run-saving stop at second base for an out and nearly made an over-the-shoulder catch to end the inning, but Yuli Gurriel’s blooper dropped for an RBI single.
Hernandez was then part of the Dodgers taking a lead in the second inning as he followed Chris Taylor to complete back-to-back home runs. Both went to the opposite field, with Taylor’s a two-run blast.
#Dodgers fans are greeting the Astros at Dodger Stadium today https://t.co/7qSm0mlhQD
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) September 12, 2020
L.A. added to their lead in the fourth as Corey Seager’s triple was cashed in by AJ Pollock on a sacrifice fly. Mookie Betts’ two-out walk in the fifth inning led to another run as he moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and raced home on Seager’s single into left field.
Julio Urias managed to keep Houston at bay after getting past his habitual first-inning struggles. That was despite issuing four walks over his six innings pitched. Urias held the Astros to just the one run on three hits in an encouraging outing as the postseason nears.
Pedro Baez, fresh off the 10-day injured list, stranded a double to complete a scoreless seventh inning. Blake Treinen allowed a run in the eighth, and Jansen had a melt down in the ninth inning.
The Astros greeted Jansen with three consecutive hits, cutting into the Dodgers’ lead on Josh Reddick’s two-run double. Max Muncy was then charged with an error on a grounder to third base, allowing the game-tying run to score.
Alex Bregman’s RBI single off Jansen gave the Astros a lead and knocked the closer out of the game. Gurriel’s sacrifice fly capped off the five-run inning.
Taylor’s double play wiped out Cody Bellinger’s leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, and it stung even more as Joc Pederson followed with a pinch-hit double. Gavin Lux, representing the trying run at the plate, struck out swinging.
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