The Los Angeles Dodgers took the first two games from the Tampa Bay Rays, giving them a chance to sweep in an early Wednesday game.
After the shortest game the Dodgers have played since 1992 and the quickest game in MLB this season on Tuesday night, the Dodgers were quickly back in action with a 12:10 pm PT start against the Rays.
The Dodgers did complete the sweep, and it also marked their third consecutive one-run win, the first time since 2022.
Dodgers 5, Rays 4: key takeaways
Shohei Ohtani less effective than normal
Ohtani entered his start dealing with two minor injuries, including a blister on his right middle finger and left knee inflammation. With those, it wasn’t a surprise he wasn’t at his best on the mound, but he was still effective enough overall to keep the Dodgers in the game.
The right-hander pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts to one walk. All four runs he allowed came in the fifth inning.
He started the inning by walking Victor Mesa Jr. before giving up a double to Hunter Feduccia. The Rays got on the board with a sacrifice fly from Taylor Walls to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 2-1.
Yandy Díaz tied the game with an RBI single, and Jonathan Aranda followed with another single to put two runners on base.
Cedric Mullins then reached on a single as Ohtani failed to cover first base, which loaded the bases. The Rays took the lead when Junior Caminero grounded into a force out, which took some excellent defense from Tommy Edman and Alex Freeland to record an out.
Richie Palacios capped off the Rays rally with another run-scoring single to put them ahead 4-2 before Ohtani got out of the inning by recording an out on a bunt attempt.
The Dodgers then got three shutout innings from their bullpen with Edgardo Henriquez, Jack Dreyer and then Alex Vesia recording the save.
Ohtani’s ERA is now at 1.47.
Freddie Freeman hits go-ahead homer
The Dodgers scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning on a single from Alex Call after Mookie Betts walked earlier in the frame. Call stole second, and after a walk from Rushing, Freeland singled home the second run of the game.
With the Dodgers trailing in the fifth, they rallied for one run, which came on a bases loaded walk from Kyle Tucker. However, they also failed to capitalize on their continued bases loaded opportunities as Call, Rushing and Freeland all produced outs to strand all three runners.
In the sixth inning, Andy Pages lined a one-out double into the left-center gap, and then Freddie Freeman slugged a two-run homer that put the Dodgers ahead, 5-4.
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