The start of Sunday’s game was delayed 58 minutes by rain, and the Dodgers offense was delayed by two months of mediocre hitting. But they scratched together enough to end a dismal road trip on a relatively high note, beating the Tigers 6-1 at Comerica Park to secure a series win in Detroit.
Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas were instrumental in the Dodgers’ first two scoring chances in the series finale. A Freeman walk and Rojas double put two runners in scoring position in the second inning, but
Michael Tucker and Kiké Hernández each struck out to strand them. In the fourth inning, Freeman and Teoscar Hernández singled, putting runners on the corners, then a Rojas sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers a run.
It was the first time the Dodgers scored first in a game since last Sunday against the Pirates.
The sixth inning brought another Freeman hit, this time his 579th career double that moved him into sole possession of 24th place all-time, followed by Teoscar Hernández unloading on a pitch for his first home run in 27 days, snapping an 80-plate-appearance drought.
The Dodgers’ first multi-run inning since Wednesday in Atlanta gave the Dodgers another lead.
The eighth inning was almost unrecognizable, as the Dodgers just kept putting people on base and added something called — I had to look this up — “insurance runs.” Sure, two of them scored on wild pitches, but beggars can’t be choosers, and the Dodgers will take the runs wherever they can get them.
Tyler Glasnow was magnificent in his second start back, pitching on four days rest and was sharper than on Tuesday in Atlanta. He retired his first nine Tigers on Sunday and his last 10, completing seven innings with six strikeouts.
In between the Tigers strung together two singles in the fourth inning, with a wild pitch in between that allowed a run to score. Those were the only two hits against Glasnow, who also walked a batter.
As bad as the offense as been, the final four games of the road trip brought hope, as the Dodgers started all four of their projected playoff starting pitchers — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Glasnow (before considering when or if Shohei Ohtani might be available to pitch), and as a team allowed only five runs over the last four games.
Yes, the Dodgers were only 2-2 in those games and that’s a problem. But if they get any sort of offense to back this pitching staff, that’s their path to success in October. But for now, they’ll take a win to close out a ho-hum August.
Sunday particulars
Home run: Teoscar Hernández (12)
WP — Tyler Glasnow (4-0): 7 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts
LP — Framber Valdez (8-10): 6 IP, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers are off on Monday before starting a nine-game homestand. First up is the St. Louis Cardinals, beginning Tuesday night (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA) with Eric Lauer on the mound for Los Angeles.
