In the rubber match for the series, the Dodgers ran out a pen game that encountered trouble early (but did settle in), and the offense basically didn’t do anything for a long stretch. The bats had a golden chance to at least tie things up late, but couldn’t take advantage in a 3-1 loss to the Rangers.
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The pen game started out rough for the Dodgers, as Michael Grove gave up a pair of runs in the 1st. Two singles started a rally by cornering the runners, then a Nathaniel Lowe grounder drove in a run and a Wyatt Langford single plated another to make it 2-0 Rangers.
Lowe ? Langford
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 14, 2024
Driving 'em in pic.twitter.com/R8lU82ztEJ
Ryan Yarbrough then entered in the 2nd and got a clean frame but ran into a ton of trouble in the 3rd. A single was followed by a sacrifice, and then a walk put a pair on. However, Austin Barnes threw out the lead runner on a double-steal attempt and everything seemed alright. Unfortunately, another walk followed and then a bloop single from Langford plated a run. After a stolen base and yet another walk, the bases were loaded again before Yarbrough could escape. 3-0 Rangers.
Hit it where they ain't! #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/Yge8NraJMt
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) June 14, 2024
Yarbrough issued another walk in the 4th but got a scoreless frame and that was it for him at 62 pitches. An uncharacteristic four walks limited his time in the game for this one.
A rejuvenated Yohan Ramirez was next out of the pen, cruising through a five-pitch 5th in which he saw a single erased by a double play. He also saw the minimum in the 6th on just 10 pitches thanks to a walk being erased by another double play.
Blake Treinen was next out in the 7th, giving up a two-out bloop double — that sorta summarized the game up till that point — before completing his scoreless frame.
Not that the Dodgers are playing well, but come on, man. pic.twitter.com/mApKEvif53
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 14, 2024
On that note, the Dodgers offense was doing … nothing. Michael Lorenzen didn’t allow a baserunner to reach second through six frames, though Andy Pages ended that in a hurry in the 7th with his seventh homer to cut the Rangers lead to 3-1.
Let it fly, Andy. pic.twitter.com/l0rEE5VOKk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 14, 2024
After Alex Vesia got a clean 8th, David Robertson was in for the Rangers, and a rally stated when Cavan Biggio got hit on the foot and Barnes singled to corner the runners. How did the heart of the order do? Well.
Biggio and Barnes reach, then Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman strike out, lmao.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 14, 2024
Lol. Lmao, even.
David Robertson is the only pitcher this season to strike out Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in succession.
— MLB (@MLB) June 14, 2024
He's done it in back-to-back games. pic.twitter.com/5RRl51XBB8
I can already see this happening in October.
The 9th went to Evan Phillips, who allowed a walk but faced the minimum thanks to a batter’s interference on a strikeout and steal attempt. That brought in Kirby Yates to close the game out, and he did issue a walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but that was as far as the rally went.
Too many of these games, honestly.
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NL WEST | RECORD |
---|---|
Dodgers | 42-28 |
Padres | 37-35 (6 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
Finishing off the homestand will be a three-game series against the Royals starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Gavin Stone on the mound against Cole Ragans and his absurd stuff.