by Megan Garcia
These are the victories the Dodgers wanted with a lineup at its full strength. The ones that can come down to any player at any moment. During Sunday’s 3–1 victory over the Rays at Dodger Stadium, the team showed its muscle to win.
The Dodgers took two of three games from Tampa Bay in come-from-behind fashion. They totaled 10 runs and clubbed four homers in those wins.
“I like how we’re playing,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We would love to have the game last night back, but overall — the last couple of weeks — we’re playing sound baseball.”
Mookie Betts launched a go-ahead, two-run shot to left center field, giving the Dodgers the 3–1 lead in the eighth. It was his first home run since Aug. 16 in St. Louis, and only his second hit in the three-game series against the Rays.
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“I was looking for a strike (to hit),” Betts said of the at-bat against reliever Richard Lovelady.
Before Betts’ go-ahead homer, Ohtani was awarded first base after being hit on his left forearm. Concern arose after Ohtani darted down the first base line, writhing in pain.
“Ohtani’s OK,” Roberts said. “They took some scans and they’re negative.”
Kiké Hernández showed his dynamic player profile in the series. As Max Muncy returned to the starting lineup, his role changed to be ready when called upon.
He connected on a cutter from Jacob Lopez in the fifth inning to jump-start the scoring. He also provided a spark Friday when his three-run homer put the Dodgers on the board and tied the game at 3–3.
Hernández is batting .278/.282/.500/.782 with eight RBI in his past 11 games.
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“It’s just about being ready when the moment calls upon,” Hernández said. “I’m trying to make the best out of every opportunity. I’m trying to feel good at the plate, not think too much or anything. When I play, I play. I’m just trying to put quality at-bats together and keep the line moving.”
Stone Stays Steady
Gavin Stone has been an impressive — and reliable — arm for the Dodgers in his first full Major League season.
His 10th quality start was trending in a winning direction after he put up six scoreless innings with five strikeouts until Jonny DeLuca’s homer in the seventh inning tied the game at 1–1.
He finished the seventh by retiring the next three batters after DeLuca’s home run — two via a swinging strikeout. Stone finished the day with seven innings, three hits, one earned run, two walks and seven strikeouts.
“Gavin has done a good job going through the highs, some lows and trying to reset,” Roberts said. “He’s a real Major League starter.”
He leads the team with 135 1/3 innings pitched. The 25-year-old accompanies Tyler Glasnow — who is on the injured list — as the only two Dodger starting pitchers with more than 100 innings pitched (Glasnow, 134).
August has been a tremendous turnaround for Stone. He is sporting a 3.25 ERA in 27 2/3 innings across five starts with a 2–1 record. In July, the righty didn’t win any of his four starts (two losses) while posting a 6.27 ERA in 18 2/3 innings.
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“Credit to Mark (Prior) and the guys we have around the clubhouse,” Stone said. “I’ve been trusting them in my delivery and fine-tuning things throughout the season.”
Pitching Staff Gaining Strength
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will throw a bullpen session on Monday before joining Triple-A Oklahoma City for a rehab assignment on Wednesday. The right-hander has been sidelined since mid-July with triceps tightness.
Tony Gonsolin, who last pitched for the Dodgers one year and one week ago, could conceivably have an opportunity to make an appearance for the Dodgers in 2024. Roberts said, “that door is slightly open,” though if so, Gonsolin would be coming out of the bullpen.
Where They Stand
The Dodgers (78–53) have an off day on Monday. They will continue the homestand on Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles (76–55). The Dodgers maintain their three-game lead in the National League West. They also have the best record in baseball — one game ahead of the New York Yankees (77–54).
Betts, Stone lead Dodgers to series victory over Rays was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.