Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani walks to home plate to lead off the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Detroit.
11:41 JST, July 15, 2024
DETROIT (AP) — Yohan Ramírez made two consecutive errors in the ninth inning, clearing the way for the Detroit Tigers to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 on Sunday, their second straight comeback win over the NL West leaders.
Wenceel Pérez threw a sacrifice bunt to advance runners in the final at bat and Ramírez threw a wide pitch to third, allowing Justyn-Henry Malloy to score the second run of the inning for the win. The right-handed pitcher failed to handle Ryan Vilade’s sacrifice bunt in the previous at bat, sending Malloy to second.
Zach McKinstry tripled in the ninth inning and scored on Malloy’s single after manager AJ Hinch made him a pinch-hitter.
“He threw an 0-2 breaking ball to McKinstry for a triple, and that opened the floodgates,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Ramírez (0-5) gave up three hits and two runs in an inning, a day after allowing Gio Urshela’s two-run homer in the 10th inning of an 11-9 loss in which the Dodgers gave up seven runs in the final two innings.
Alex Faedo (4-1) took the win after making the final out in the ninth inning.
Los Angeles is ahead 48-2 after eight innings, but has lost both games in Detroit in that situation.
“It’s definitely a frustrating way to end the first half,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers are struggling into the All-Star break, having lost six of seven games due to an injured pitching staff.
“I think the breakthrough came at a good time,” said All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Detroit has now won three straight series. The Tigers won three of four series against the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians earlier this week after sweeping Cincinnati.
“You’ve got to do good stretches to feel good about yourself and put yourself in better situations,” Hinch said. “We’ve got a long way to go to get where we want to be.”
Shohei Ohtani had two hits, the Dodgers scored three runs in the first inning and it looked like that would be enough for the win, but the game got out of hand towards the end.
Los Angeles right-handed pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. started the game after being acquired from Pittsburgh, which had assigned the right-handed pitcher to a new position on Friday. He gave up just one hit in three innings.
“These are absolutely desperate times,” Roberts said.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Detroit.
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Dodgers: Ohtani, Freeman, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández will represent the team at Tuesday night’s All-Star game in Arlington, Texas. Betts and Tyler Glasnow, who is among Los Angeles’ injured starting pitchers, were also selected.
The Dodgers begin a three-game series at home against Boston on Friday night.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani cools down before the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Detroit.
