Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Starting the series against the Royals, there were some early zeros in this game, and both pitchers ended up going deep. While it was the Royals who struck the first big blow, the Dodgers came back with two of their own to tie it late, and Freddie Freeman came up with the game-winning late hit in a 4-3 victory.
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With Gavin Stone on the mound things looked like they would settle into a pitchers’ duel early, as he retired the first six batters he faced, then faced the minimum in the 3rd after a single was picked off. However, the 4th saw a single and a walk cashed in by a no-doubt homer for Salvador Perez to give the Royals a 3-0 lead in a flash.
Salvy knew he got all of this one. ?
— MLB (@MLB) June 15, 2024
Is he your starting AL catcher in the #AllStarGame? https://t.co/AOTyLAg5Kr pic.twitter.com/YG08bH1aJd
Things seemed bleak at that point, but Stone refocused, getting out of the 4th and working around two-out trouble in the 5th. He then finished by getting clean frames in both the 6th and 7th innings to cap off what ended up as another good start with basically one mistake.
7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 94 Pitches.
As all that went on things were looking bleak early on against Royals starter Cole Ragans, who was perfect through three innings. A Shohei Ohtani single in the 4th at least broke that possibility up, but it was all the Dodgers had heading into the 5th.
Well, anything is truly possible in this life, as Andy Pages reached on an infield single and power hitting Miguel Rojas smashed his third of the year to left to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Miggy Ro! pic.twitter.com/O8OGl5un8P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2024
Shortly after that, it was Chris Taylor who homered on a changeup down that tied the game at 3-3. His first of the year of course, and probably first hit ever it felt like.
CTied at 3! pic.twitter.com/ZaVumMq135
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2024
Feel bad for Ragans, who looked just absolutely confused about the sport.
Chris Taylor's homer causes man to question physics, maybe god. pic.twitter.com/H0UdZabQ0X
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2024
After a double plays in both the 6th and 7th innings killed any chance of a rally, at least Ragans was out of the game.
Speaking of, Stone was also out in the 8th and made way for Daniel Hudson, who got the side on just nine pitches.
For the Royals, it was Will Smith in the 8th, and he allowed a one-out single to Mookie Betts that was too hot to handle at third. In an attempt to pick him off, he allowed Betts to get to second on a throwing error, and that was costly because with two outs Freddie did his thing and singled to center to score him for a 4-3 lead.
After Mookie Betts singled and advanced on a pick-off error, Freddie Freeman drives him in with a single to take the lead in the 8th. pic.twitter.com/6e9SihUcWn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 15, 2024
Alex Vesia then entered for the save in the 9th and got the first two outs, but a two-out single provided some tension. Thankfully, he got a harmless fly out to end it and secure the save.
What a year for him.
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Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Night by the way.
It's LGBTQ+ Pride Night at Dodger Stadium presented by Blue Shield of California! 🏳️🌈 pic.twitter.com/Z53c2pISz1
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2024
The mound tonight for LGBTQ+ Pride Night. 💙 pic.twitter.com/U6LiUuoyhY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 15, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 43-28 |
| Padres | 37-36 (7 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
Same two teams tomorrow but an hour earlier at 3:10 PM HT/6:10 PM PT/9:10 PM ET due to being on the weekend. It’ll be a well-rested Yoshinobu Yamamoto coming off his ace-like performance against the Yankees, facing off against Seth Lugo, who is also performing like an ace.
