Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024.
13:26 JST, August 25, 2024
LOS ANGELES (AP) — José Caballero hit a game-winning two-run home run in the 10th inning off Joe Kelly after Tampa Bay blew a 4-0 first-inning lead and the Rays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Saturday night.
Jonny DeLuca started the 10th inning as the designated runner at second base, took over at third on a groundout by Josh Lowe and scored on a shot from Caballero to left-center by Kelly (1-1).
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips allowed the tying home run to Junior Caminero in the ninth inning, then retired the next three batters.
Shohei Ohtani hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the fifth inning after the Japanese superstar became the fastest player in Major League history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases.
Ohtani led off the 10th inning against Garrett Cleavinger and hit a towering fly to right field that was caught. Designated runner Miguel Rojas advanced to third and scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly to center, putting the Dodgers behind 9-8. But Freddie Freeman grounded to second to end the game.
Manuel Rodriguez (3-3) earned the win with one inning of relief. Cleavinger earned his fourth save.
Trailing 5-3, Max Muncy doubled in the fifth inning, took third on Tommy Edman’s groundout and scored on Rojas’ single. Ohtani followed with his blast that was greeted with chants of “MVP! MVP!”
Rojas added a solo shot in the seventh inning — his first home run since June 14 — for the Dodgers, who lead the NL West and have won five straight and seven straight at home.
The Rays loaded the bases in the eighth inning against reliever Michael Kopech. Lowe singled, Caballero doubled and Alex Jackson had no outs. Yandy Diaz sacrificed into a double play, scoring Lowe. Jackson was thrown out at second base when he inexplicably decided to tag and run on the fly ball to left. Brandon Lowe popped up to short, putting the Rays behind 7-6.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Rays starter Taj Bradley allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings, striking out five.
The Rays took a 4-0 lead off Kershaw in the first inning, as the left-handed pitcher needed 30 pitches to get five consecutive baserunners on base.
Caminero had an RBI single, Christopher Morel doubled and left fielder Teoscar Hernández’s fielding error allowed Caminero to score. DeLuca added two runs on an RBI single.
Hernández hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
