Los Angeles Dodgers design hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, June 13, 2024, in Los Angeles.
14:28 JST, June 14, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Lorenzen pitched seven smooth innings, rookie Wyatt Langford had two RBI singles and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Thursday night to win a series at Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1999.
For the second night in a row, Rangers reliever David Robertson retired consecutive MVPs Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman to preserve a 3–1 lead in the eighth.
Texas took two of three from the NL West leaders after being outscored 15-2 in the opener, as the Dodgers hit five home runs – including four in one inning.
But the Rangers’ pitching short-circuited LA’s offense this time.
Betts, Ohtani – who homered in each of the first two games – and Freeman were a combined 2 for 12 with three strikeouts.
Lorenzen (4-3) allowed one run and four hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Kirby Yates, the Rangers’ 37-year-old closer, earned his 10th save after needing 26 pitches to get through the ninth.
The Dodgers didn’t score until rookie Andy Pages’ homer, just inside the left-field foul pole, left them trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning.
They had runners on the corners and no one out in the eighth, the first time they put a man in scoring position all night. But then Robertson fanned Betts, Ohtani and Freeman in order. The 39-year-old reliever took an 0-2 lead over the powerful trio, who each went down swinging.
Michael Grove (4-3) took the loss, giving up two runs and three hits in one inning as the opener in a bullpen game.
The Rangers’ win was only their second in Los Angeles in club history and first since 1999. Manager Bruce Bochy improved to 109-109 at Dodger Stadium, the most wins by an opposing manager in stadium history.
Texas took a 2–0 lead in the first inning after Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI groundout and Langford’s RBI single with two outs. Langford added a runscoring single in the third.
Adolis García had two hits and scored twice for the defending World Series champions.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: SS Corey Seager was cut to keep him for a three-game series against the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners. He homered on Wednesday after missing four straight games due to a hamstring problem.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (elbow) threw a three-inning simulated game and is further than expected. … RHP Bobby Miller (shoulder) made a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City. …RHP Ryan Brasier (calf) went on the 60-day IL.
NEXT ONE
Rangers: LHP Andrew Heaney (2-7, 4.06 ERA) will start Friday’s series opener in Seattle.
Dodgers: RHP Gavin Stone (7.2, 2.93) starts Friday’s interleague series opener against Kansas City.
