The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a two-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers, led by home runs from Justin Turner and Chris Taylor. The Dodgers avoided what would have been their first stretch of three consecutive losses since July 21-23, 2021.
The Interleague matchup at Dodger Stadium represented a rarity, as the Dodgers and Tigers last played in Los Angeles during the 2014 season. The Dodgers did take two of three games at Comerica Park in 2017.
“I think the challenge is the unfamiliarity. You look at the guys we’re going to be seeing this weekend, guys in the ‘pen we don’t know a whole lot about,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game.
“The position players, (Javier) Báez is probably the guy we’re most familiar with, but a lot of those guys we just don’t know. So I think it’s just going out there and focusing on playing good baseball.”
Tyler Anderson did his part by allowing just one run and scattering five hits over five innings. He was aided by the Derek Hill being called for runner interference on a sacrifice bunt attempt, otherwise Anderson’s throwing error would have left two in scoring position.
Freddie Freeman also helped his cause with a pair of impressive plays at first base, including snagging a line drive for the start of an unassisted double play.
The start was his second for the Dodgers and fourth overall appearance. Anderson’s encouraging performances bode well for the team, considering it’s unclear when Andrew Heaney will return from left shoulder inflammation.
Dodgers lineup produces
The Dodgers aided Anderson’s effort by scoring at least one run in each of the first four innings.
Justin Turner provided an early lead with a two-run home run, his first of the season. Chris Taylor then hit a screaming line drive that carried to the cutout in the left field pavilion for a solo homer in the second inning. Taylor’s blast traveled an estimated 441 feet.
Mookie Betts’ leadoff single and Freeman’s walk set the table in the third inning, and Trea Turner collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Turner drew a walk in the eighth inning to extend his career-best on-base streak to 38 games.
The Dodgers then had some fortune on their side when Betts’ grounder got by Jeimer Candelario and Javier Báez for an infield single and error that allowed a run to score.
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