The Dodgers bats come alive late to down A’s 7-3 in the series opener
Los Angeles Dodgersb #8 Enrique Hernandez (LF) had three RBI’s in the bottom of the fourth inning. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1
LOS ANGELES, CA – After a forgettable July, superb pitching early and big hits late helped the Los Angeles Dodgers (60-45) hold off the Oakland Athletics (30-78) in the opener of a three-game set, 7-3 Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
In a battle against the worst team in the AL, new acquisition Lance Lynn (7-9) had seven strikeouts, giving up three runs in seven innings, picking up the win in his Dodgers debut, while Ken Waldichuk (2-7), was pulled in the middle of the fourth inning after being responsible for four earned runs. It was a pitchers-duel early, with Lynn taking a no-hitter into the fourth inning of the scoreless game.
The wheels started to come off for Waldichuk, who loaded the bases and then lost control, hitting James Outman in the back to walk in the game's first run. Additional run support came in the form of Kike Hernandez, whose clutch two-out bases-loaded double in the bottom of the fourth emptied the bases giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. The hit electrified the crowd, and fan-favorite Hernandez rewarded them with a short gyrating dance on second base to celebrate, which had the crowd ecstatic.
"My last year here, I wasn't able to play in front of fans," said Hernandez. "To be able to play here at Dodger Stadium again with a packed stadium, there's nothing like it. I kinda grew up here, so to be able to come back and put on a show for the fans, there's nothing like it."
Oakland showed signs of life after Zack Gelof sent a 91-mph fastball over the left field wall in the top of the sixth inning to get the A's on the board 4-1. Hernandez then showcased his defense, running full speed into foul territory and sacrificing his body as he smashed into the wall to catch an inning-ending fly ball.
Oakland A’s #25 Brent Rooker (LF) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
In the top of the seventh inning, Brent Rooker and Jordan Diaz homered off Lynn cutting the lead to 4-3.
Fortunately for the Dodgers, Mookie Betts returned from his three-game absence and hit his 28th homer of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning. Freddie Freeman followed that with a base hit, and three consecutive walks gave the Dodgers a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Betts-and-Freeman show was on again, starting with a Betts double. Freeman followed that up by driving him in with an RBI single. The last Dodgers run, giving the Boys in Blue the 7-3 win. It was a stellar night at the plate for Freeman, whose four hits on the night and career-high 14th stolen base strengthened his case for NL MVP.
The Dodgers agreed to a deal at the trade deadline earlier in the day to acquire Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez to strengthen the starting rotating. Still, Rodriguez invoked his no-trade clause citing wanting to stay close to his family on the East Coast. If the 36-year-old Lynn can keep up his stellar play from tonight, the vetoed trade will be an afterthought this season.
"Whenever you come to a good team, you want to make a good impression," said Lynn. "Offense did a great job, and the defense was awesome too. I made a couple of mistakes that left the ballpark, but we won the game, and that's all that matters."
The Dodgers hope to keep the August wins coming when the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.