The Los Angeles Dodgers had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 12-1 loss to the Texas Rangers, who picked up their first road win since May 6. The Rangers went into play Saturday night having lost 16 consecutive road games.
A Mookie Betts error on a fly ball to shallow center field led to the Rangers taking a 1-0 lead two batters later when Adolis Garcia pulled an RBI double down the third-base line. Garcia then appeared to score when Joey Gallo followed with a base hit, but he misread the ball and made a move to retreat after rounding third base.
Garcia realized Gallo’s drive found outfield grass but in his turn to head back toward the plate, failed to step on third base. The Dodgers threw over to appeal and were credited with an out, marking a second time this week they benefitted from an opponent missing a base.
Texas did end up scoring a second run in the inning on Nate Lowe’s double. Jonah Heim then doubled their lead with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Willie Calhoun’s RBI triple knocked Trevor Bauer out of the game with one out in the seventh.
He finished with eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings but was charged with six runs (four earned). Bauer’s spin rates were again down from his season averages for a second consecutive outing. Bauer has suffered back-to-back starts for the first time with the Dodgers.
The Rangers added to their lead by scoring two runs off Nate Jones in both the eighth and ninth innings to effectively put the game out of reach. Andy Burns, who started at second base in his Dodgers debut, was asked to replace Jones in the ninth. Burns surrendered a two-run homer before getting through the inning.
The 12 runs and 17 hits allowed both marked season highs for the Dodgers.
L.A. had multiple chances against Kolby Allard, including with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth. However, Zach McKinstry hit a soft chopper on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.
AJ Pollock’s leadoff home run in the seventh prevented the Dodgers from suffering their first shutout loss since Sept. 14, 2019.
Dodgers lose Muncy to IL
Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed some optimism with Max Muncy and his recovery from right side tightness, the team wound up placing him on the 10-day injured list due to an oblique strain.
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