Dodgers bats liven up vs Rangers
The last time the Dodgers homered four times in an inning was on Sept. 29, 2021, against the San Diego Padres.
Earl Heath
Contributing Sports Writer
After a weekend series win against the New York Yankees the DODGERS began a six game home stand by routing the Texas Rangers 15-2.
Will Smith got things going with a three-run shot in the first, giving the Dodgers a lead they never relinquished in the opener of the three-game series.
Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Jason Heyward homered in a seven-run sixth inning.
“To see four homers in one inning just doesn’t happen very often, if ever,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We won a lot of at-bats, pitches.”
Ohtani’s 16th homer of the season traveled 433 feet and at 114.2 mph and was his second hardest-hit shot of the season. It came off reliever Grant Anderson and scored Mookie Betts, who walked. Freeman followed with a 383 foot shot to left-center.
“That’s fun. You always hear it, hitting is contagious,” Freeman said. “Once Mookie worked the walk, Shohei hits the homer, you just want to try to keep it going to start the inning again.”
Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after his two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Rangers Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo Credit: Wally Skalij)
Hernández went deep to left-center for his team-leading 17th homer that scored Smith, who singled.
“We’re having good at-bats and that’s why we’re producing a lot,” Hernández said. “It’s awesome when you see everybody getting hits in a game. We’re having a great time right now.”
Heyward’s 415-foot shot landed in the Rangers’ bullpen, scoring Andy Pages, who singled, making it 14-1.
The last time the Dodgers homered four times in an inning was on Sept. 29, 2021, against the San Diego Padres.
Anderson allowed seven runs and six hits against no strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning when the Dodgers batted around in the sixth.
Betts had a two-out, three-run double in the fourth and Gavin Lux added a RBI single in the fifth.
The Rangers ended up using catcher Andrew Knizner in his second career pitching stint. He allowed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Miguel Vargas that scored Ohtani, who was hit by a pitch in the seventh.
“To see four homers in one inning just doesn’t happen very often, if ever,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We won a lot of at-bats, pitches.”
James Paxon (6-1) went six innings gave up two earned runs, struck out two and walked two to earn the win.
Over the weekend L. A. prevailed over the Yankees in a three-game set. In the series opener Teoscar Hernández was arguably the best player on the field. He hit three homers, and in game one a 2-1 DODGER win he delivered a go-ahead, two-run double in the 11th inning. Hernández showed he’s at his best when the lights are bright.
Yohsinobu Yamamoto had his best outing of the year tossing seven scoreless innings striking out seven allowing just two hits on 106 pitches. The Japanese born threw Yamamoto’s 19 hardest-thrown pitches of season came in this game as he consistently hit 97 and 98 mph on the radar gun.
“He signed the deal he did for a reason,” Yankee star Aaron Judge stated, “He’s a great pitcher. Besides having elite stuff, he’s got great command. I think that’s what we really noticed today. We’d get into hitter’s counts, and he still wouldn’t give in to the heart of the plate. … He just kind of kept guys off balance and kept us on the ground.”
The following day despite two homers by Aaron Judge Hernandez went “UPTOWN” twice, including a dagger grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to deflate the Yankees in an 11-3 win. He drove in six runs on the night. Freddie Freeman added a double and two RBI’s. Gavin Stone (7-2) got the win going six-innings striking out seven.
The DODGERS fell in game three 6-4 and didn’t get the sweep but Skipper Dave Roberts was pleased.
“I think both teams brought our best, and fortunately for us, we won the series,” said Roberts. “It was just a good environment all weekend. Good to show well against those guys. They’re a heckuva ball club.”
