The Los Angeles Dodgers remained winless in five extra-inning games this season with a 2-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians that snapped a modest winning streak at two. The Dodgers also remained a half-game back of the San Diego Padres for first place in the National League West.
Heading into the matchup, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts set a target goal of five innings and 75 pitches for Clayton Kershaw. He wound up needing 81 pitches, but did complete the five frames in his second start since returning from the 10-day injured list.
Kershaw held the Dodgers’ 1-0 lead until José Ramirez’s speed sparked a rally for the Guardians in the fourth inning. After reaching on an infield single, Ramirez went to third base on Oscar Gonzalez’s single.
Josh Naylor’s sacrifice fly tied the game before Kershaw could get through the inning.
The Dodgers had taken their lead behind Cody Bellinger’s home run in the second inning, his eighth of the season.
In keeping with their recent trend, L.A. squandered several opportunities to push runs across. They had multiple baserunners in the third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th innings, yet didn’t capitalize in any of those instances.
Will Smith was the primary culprit, leaving a team-high six on base.
Max Muncy nearly broke up the deadlock but his drive to right field was caught at the warning track for the second out of the eighth inning.
Bellinger’s single and stolen base gave the Dodgers the game-winning run in scoring position with nobody out in the ninth. He advanced to third when Oscar Gonzalez inexplicably dropped a routine fly ball in right field that should have been the second out of the inning.
But Bellinger and Hanser Alberto were stranded when Gavin Lux struck out, and Trea Turner flied to Gonzalez.
The Guardians manufactured offense in the 10th inning behind an infield single and sacrifice fly to take their decided lead.
Dodgers Interleague history vs. Guardians
Friday was just the 13th meeting between the Dodgers and Guardians since MLB began Interleague play in 1997. L.A. entered 7-5 in those matchups.
The teams last played during the 2017 season at Progressive Field, and this weekend’s series is the Guardians’ first visit to Dodger Stadium since 2014.
Betts scratched
The Dodgers were without Mookie Betts, who was scratched prior to the game due to a right rib contusion. Betts produced a historic month of May but is just 3-for-39 since having a four-game hitting streak snapped on June 5.
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