The Dodgers started their homestand on a strong note, as home runs from Kyle Tucker and Miguel Rojas helped defeat the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
In Eric Lauer’s previous start in Pittsburgh, he allowed a pair of two-out home runs to Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn. This time on Monday, after getting two outs on eight pitches, Lauer allowed a double to Junior Caminero before Ryan Vilade tattooed his first pitch halfway up the left field pavilion to make it a 2-0 Tampa Bay lead. The Rays decided to play
small ball in the second, as Taylor Walls brought home a run on a suicide squeeze, giving Tampa Bay a three-run lead.
The Dodgers went down in order in the bottom of the first against Nick Martinez. They responded with a double from Mookie Betts in the bottom of the second before Max Muncy hustled out an infield single. Kyle Tucker picked the perfect time to smack his first home run at home in two months, as he scraped one over the right field wall to tie the game at 3. It is the first time that Tucker has homered at home as a Dodger while wearing his jersey no. 23.
Tucker showed off his cannon in right field as he gunned down Johnathan Aranda at the plate for the third out of the third inning to keep the game tied at three.
After allowing the early three runs, Lauer managed to keep Tampa Bay off the board over his final four innings on the night despite having to navigate through heavy traffic on the bases. It’s his first quality start since his Dodger debut on May 26 against the Colorado Rockies
Martinez outperformed Lauer after the Tucker home run by retiring eight in a row until Tucker collected his second hit of the night. He was unable to complete six innings, as an 11-pitch walk to Freddie Freeman and a walk to Max Muncy signaled his departure, and Kevin Cash brought in the southpaw Cam Booser to face Tucker and Ryan Ward. Booser struck out Tucker for the second out, and Dave Roberts countered Booser by pinch hitting Alex Call for Ward. The decision ultimately failed, as Call went down swinging to keep the game tied with the go-ahead runner in scoring position.
The Dodgers decided to bring in another pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh, replacing Alex Freeland for Miguel Rojas against the left-hander Steven Matz. Rojas swung at the first pitch, and sent it over the left field wall for his first home run since April 20, giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night. It was also Rojas’ first home run at home on the year.
The Rays put the leadoff man against Will Klein in the top of the eighth, as Vilade singled the other way to put the potential tying run on base. Vilade scattered his way to third with two outs, and against the left-handed hitting Cedric Mullins, Alex Vesia was called to get the final out. One flyout of Mullins later, Vesia kept the lead intact. Tanner Scott retired the side in order to secure the save as the Dodgers completed yet another comeback win.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Ryan Vilade (4); Kyle Tucker (6), Miguel Rojas (2)
- WP— Kyle Hurt (2-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
- LP— Steven Matz (4-4): 2 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
- SV— Tanner Scott (8): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Up next
The Dodgers host the middle match of their three-game set against the Rays on Tuesday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Justin Wrobleski looks to bounce back after a rough outing in Pittsburgh, and he faces Drew Rasmussen.
