The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded a quick two-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday. Alex Wood took the mound with the Dodgers looking to extend their modest winning streak to three games with a sweep of the Rays.
Drew Smyly got off to a hot start, striking out the side — Kiké Hernandez, Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez — in the first inning.
After striking out Logan Forsythe to open the bottom of the first, Wood gave up a solo home run to Brandon Guyer, and the Dodgers found themselves trailing 1-0 after the opening frame a second consecutive game.
Smyly didn’t slow down any in the second inning, working around a leadoff walk to Justin Turner by retiring the next three batters faced, including two by strikeout. Wood tossed a 1-2-3 second inning, collecting back-to-back strikeouts in the process.
Corey Seager worked a leadoff walk in the third inning, and reached third base on a Puig two-out double. However, both runners were stranded as Gonzalez tapped back to the mound. Wood continued to pitch well, bookending a 1-2-3 third inning with strikeouts to keep the Dodgers within a run of the Rays.
Howie Kendrick hit a one-out single in the fourth, and was moved into scoring position on a Trayce Thompson chopper. Yasmani Grandal delivered with a two-out RBI single to tie the game, but was caught in a rundown to end the inning.
CONTINUE READING: Rays add to home run total, nearly give game away in eighth inning
