Freeman extends hitting streak as Dodgers beat Rays in Glasnow’s season debut
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — In a tense and tight matchup of division leaders, Freddie Freeman and the Los Angeles Dodgers got here out on prime.
Freeman prolonged his hitting streak to 16 video games, Max Muncy and Miguel Vargas homered, and the NL West-leading Dodgers beat the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 on Saturday.
Freeman completed 2 for 3 with two walks and is hitting .444 (28 for 63) with 18 RBIs throughout his streak.
Mookie Betts had an RBI single and Freeman adopted with a run-scoring double off Colin Poche (3-1) as Los Angeles took a 5-4 lead within the seventh inning. Vargas added a solo shot within the eighth.
“That was a gritty win,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “So much respect for this Tampa team, the way they play. They don’t give you anything. And for us to get a lead and lose it and come back and fight back, it was just overall just a good win — and now we have a chance to win a series.”
Harold Ramírez hit the Rays’ main league-leading a centesimal homer, however Tampa Bay dropped to 25-6 at residence. Tampa Bay reached 100 residence runs in 54 video games, fifth-fastest of any crew since 1901.
Los Angeles has 84 residence runs, which is second within the National League.
Neither beginning pitcher, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw nor Tampa Bay right-hander Tyler Glasnow, made it previous the fifth inning.
Yency Almonte (3-0) labored an ideal sixth. Caleb Ferguson gave up Wander Franco’s RBI single earlier than getting his second save.
“This is such a great team win. … I didn’t have anything to do with it, unfortunately,” Kershaw stated. “The bullpen pitched four solid innings. Freddie, guys had clutch hits.”
Ferguson entered with one out within the ninth and allowed Taylor Walls’ double. After putting out Jose Siri and strolling Yandy Díaz, the left-hander permitted Franco’s single to middle subject earlier than getting a game-ending grounder from Ramírez.
Díaz, hitting .325 with a .429 on-base proportion, hit a ball with residence run distance simply foul down the right-field line earlier than drawing his stroll.
“That was scary,” Roberts stated. “He’s a scary hitter. I don’t like him coming up to bat.”
Glasnow went 4 1/3 innings in his season debut after being sidelined by a strained left indirect. He allowed three runs and 5 hits whereas putting out eight in an 83-pitch outing. The 6-foot-8 righty was restricted to 39 video games from 2019-22 as a consequence of accidents.
“I wasn’t perfect, but definitely liked coming back for the first one,” Glasnow stated. “I’m happy with it.”
Kershaw went on the bereavement record Monday following the demise of his mom. He was activated Friday and gave up 4 runs on six hits over 5 innings.
“Personally, it’s frustrating,” stated Kershaw, winless over his final three begins. “I had some good rhythm, good momentum going the first few innings. Just kind of lost it there. My command became very inconsistent.”
Kershaw beat Glasnow twice within the 2020 World Series because the Dodgers defeated Tampa Bay in six video games. The lefty had additionally gained his two prior regular-season begins towards the Rays, posting a 1.88 ERA.
Manuel Margot had a two-run single within the fourth, and Ramírez put the Rays forward 4-3 together with his two-run homer to proper.
Muncy, hitless in his earlier 10 at-bats, linked on his sixteenth homer main off the second. He hit an RBI double within the fourth and scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
MOVING DAY
To make room for Glasnow on the roster, RHP Cooper Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham at some point after getting his first massive league win.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (left hamstring) had his scheduled Saturday bullpen session pushed again to Tuesday after experiencing some soreness throwing Friday.
UP NEXT
Rays LHP Josh Fleming (1-0) will begin or comply with an opener towards Dodgers rookie RHP Gavin Stone (0-0) in Sunday’s recreation that begins at 11:35 a.m. EDT, which is 8:35 a.m. Los Angeles time.
“I was thinking about sleeping here. I’ve never stayed in the stadium,” Roberts joked.
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