The Dodgers dropped the second sport of this collection as outdated pal Corey Seager hit a three-run bomb to arrange the Rangers' 3-2 victory of their first sport as an opponent at Dodger Stadium.
When an offense places a quantity as unusual on the board because the 15 runs the Dodgers scored on Tuesday to open this collection, one is prone to ponder how they’ll bounce again the subsequent day, it's simply human nature. Outdoors of one other majestic dwelling run by Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers couldn't muster a lot offensively by means of eight innings, however within the ninth, issues bought attention-grabbing, simply not sufficient to provide the Dodgers a win.
Will Smith led off the ultimate inning with a base hit and the red-hot Teoscar Hernández got here up simply brief by one, hitting a ball to the warning observe in middle. After a line drive by Gavin Lux and a stroll by Andy Pages, Jason Heyward was the final hope for LA.
The veteran outfielder drilled a liner to the wall in right-center, Smith scored with ease and regardless that Pages had a cease signal, he took the danger and was thrown out on the plate.
It’s uncertain that Pages had this specific thought in thoughts, however the subsequent man was the boat of the ninth gap in Cavan Biggio, so you can’t blame him a lot for taking a danger.
Whereas Web page really ran by means of the cease signal, he did it so obliviously that the rookie outfielder didn't have a look at Dino Ebel as he rounded the nook at third base. That may very well be a separate dialog about whether or not he ought to ever put himself in that place, however that's what occurred.
#Dodgers Andy Pages stated he didn't see Dino Ebel run the cease signal. As soon as he noticed the middle of the ball, he thought he might rating. He added that he must be taught and be higher in these conditions.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) June 13, 2024
Other than the ending, two issues stand out trying again on this sport. The primary clearly is Seager's homer. The second is the magnificent nature with which David Robertson, sure what you do David Robertson manhandled the Dodgers' entrance three right into a high-leverage spot within the eighth, thus establishing the non-MVPs to aim a comeback within the ninth.
Robertson, who final labored because the beginning pitcher in a loss to the Giants, struck out Mookie Betts and Ohtani in six innings. Freddie Freeman did the Texas reliever's job a bit extra, however he additionally struck out swinging to finish the inning.
Outdoors of an egregious strike name on Ohtani, Robertson was as dominant as his ultimate line advised.
Transferring on to the Dodgers' pitching, Walker Buehler labored towards a specific narrative in his outing, it wasn't essentially the most thrilling, nevertheless it did spark good emotions, although, after which Seager got here alongside and ruined it.
For those who want extra proof that Buehler is engaged on issues and, in a manner, finds out who he’s following his return, the right-hander broke out a brand new strategy on this matchup with the Rangers. Buehler principally four-seam fastball, particularly early, counting on a number of cutters and sinkers.
Regardless of the identical velocity as earlier campaigns, Buehler's fastball has taken a success in 2024 and so it is smart that the Dodgers will search for options to treatment it. As said, this was an early pattern, making it most likely honest to imagine that Buehler got here up with that sport plan, and it wasn't a case of in-game adjustment.
The robust balls continued, however for many of his outing, Buehler was capable of preserve the Rangers off the board, stranding runners in scoring place in three of the primary 4 innings. There was even a second within the fourth by which Dave Roberts got here out with the coach, indignant at Buehler, who appeared superb, however continued with back-to-back strikeouts to finish that body.
Going through Seager within the fifth inning with two males on and a one-run lead, seeing the swings the previous Dodger was placing in, you bought that feeling that Buehler was coming off one run. After going with cutters, sinkers, and sliders within the first six pitches of that at-bat, Buehler resorted to the four-seamer, and it was up the center, promptly crushed for a three-run bomb.
It is very important word that, because the offense appears to not wish to assist Tyler Glasnow, the protection fails a bit Buehler. What made it a three-run bomb as a substitute of a two-run one was an error by Dodger rookie Cavan Biggio misplaying a grounder to 3rd.
Biggio regarded good within the third apart from that misplay and completed one for 3 with the bat, hitting in entrance of his father, corridor of famer Craig Biggio who was in attendance.
Wednesday particular
Programs at dwelling: Shohei Ohtani (17); Corey Seager (14)
WP – Jacob Latz (2-1): 2 IP, 1 hit, 1 stroll, 1 strikeout
LP – Walker Buehler (1-4): 5 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 stroll, 2 strikeouts
Sv – Kirby Yates (9): 1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 stroll
Subsequent
With Yoshinobu Yamamoto given additional relaxation and moved to Saturday, the Dodgers will go along with a bunch effort within the rubber sport of this collection on Thursday (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Michael Grove the primary pitcher on the mountain Michael Lorenzen begins for the Rangers.
