The Los Angeles Dodgers came away with a 3-1 win against the Tampa Bay Rays, clinching a series victory in what proved to be a pitcher’s duel between the two clubs.
With a 1-1 tie game in the eighth, Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half of the inning. He showed some pain on his lower hand/wrist area, but stayed in the game.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, the worry and pain turned into celebration quickly as Mookie Betts homered on the next pitch to give the Dodgers a two-run lead.
Anthony Banda was given the save opportunity and closed out the game.
Gavin Stone was dominant in his outing as he seems to be fully on track after a rough patch in July that saw him post a 6.27 ERA over the month. Since his start on Aug. 7, Stone has thrown 22 innings with just five runs allowed.
This time out, Stone held the Rays to just one run on three hits over seven innings while striking out seven and walking two. He started the game with 3.1 perfect innings before Brandon Lowe singled to break up the no-hitter.
Stone allowed another baserunner in the fifth when he walked former teammate Jonny DeLuca, and he almost gave up a run, but Kiké Hernández made a great catch in center field to keep the Rays off the board.
Stone ended up pitching six scoreless frames before the Rays got on the board in the seventh when DeLuca homered, which tied the game.
The Dodgers also had their problems on offense today as they didn’t have a baserunner until Hunter Feduccia drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third. Their first hit came in the next inning when Freddie Freeman singled, but they weren’t able to score until the next inning.
Kiké Hernández, after taking away a run from the Rays, blasted his ninth homer of the season to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
Hunter Feduccia makes first start for Dodgers
Hunter Feduccia made his MLB debut earlier this year on July 31, receiving a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth inning of a loss in San Diego while Freddie Freeman was away from the club.
But with Austin Barnes on the 10-day injured list, Feduccia made his first MLB start.
“I’m excited,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “It’s obviously a thrill for him. I like the way that he’s caught Gavin a ton, there’s familiarity there.
“And also I just feel that giving Will an off day, day game after night game makes sense. So I’m excited to see what Hunter can do.”
He ended up going 1-for-2 with a single, walk and strikeout in his three plate appearances. The single was his first career hit.
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