The Los Angeles Dodgers squandered an early lead before coming back for a 7-6 win over the L.A. Angels, but that was secondary to Mookie Betts being removed after the first inning.
Betts was hit by a pitch in his left hip/back area to lead off the bottom of the first and he later scored one of the Dodgers’ three runs in the inning. However, as Julio Teheran was laboring to the tune of 52 pitches, a Dodgers trainer checked on Betts in the dugout.
He was back in the on-deck circle for a second at-bat in the inning but AJ Pollock struck out swinging. Despite Betts’ efforts to remain in the game, he was removed at the start of the second inning. The Dodgers later said it was simply out of precaution.
After Tony Gonsolin breezed through two perfect innings, he ran into trouble in the third. Jo Adell hit a leadoff double and scored when Jahmani Jones followed with a base hit into center field.
Then with one out and two on, Jared Walsh lifted a high drive to left field that Joc Pederson was unable to make a leaping catch on. The ball ricocheted off the wall and rolled into shallow left field, resulting in a game-tying two-run triple for Walsh.
Albert Pujols’ sacrifice fly gave the Angels a decided lead before Gonsolin could get through the inning. The four runs were all Gonsolin allowed as he completed six innings.
Just as it appeared he would be on the hook for a loss, Joc Pederson delivered a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth. Pederson’s display of power was met shortly after by the lights going out at Dodger Stadium, causing a 25-minute delay.
Edwin Rios hit his second home run in as many games, though this time it was with the assistance of Adell allowing the ball to go off his glove and over the wall. Will Smith also hit a home run for a second consecutive game, which wound up being needed as Alex Wood allowed a two-run double in the ninth.
Adam Kolarek allowed an infield single before stranding the tying runs on base to convert the save.
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