LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jose Caballero hit a key two-run homer off Joe Kelly in the 10th inning after Tampa Bay blew a 4-0 lead in the first inning and the Rays beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Saturday night.
Jonny DeLuca began the 10th inning as the designated runner at second base, reached third base on Josh Lowe’s groundout and scored on Caballero’s throw to left center field against Kelly (1-1).
Dodgers relief pitcher Evan Phillips allowed Junior Caminero’s tying home run early in the ninth inning before striking out the next three batters.
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to take the lead after the Japanese superstar became the fastest player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases.
Ohtani was the first to strike out of the 10th inning against Garrett Cleavinger, hitting a huge fly to right that was caught. Designated runner Miguel Rojas advanced to third base and scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly to center, putting the Dodgers behind 9-8. But Freddie Freeman hit a ground ball to second base to end the game.
Manuel Rodriguez (3-3) earned the win with one inning as a relief pitcher. Cleavinger made his fourth save.
Trailing 5-3, Max Muncy hit a double in the fifth inning, reached third base on a Tommy Edman groundout and scored on Rojas’ single. Ohtani followed with his swing, which was greeted with chants of “MVP! MVP!”
Rojas hit a solo home run in the seventh inning – his first home run since June 14 – for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who had won five straight overall and seven straight at home.
The bottom of the Rays’ lineup loaded the bases in the eighth inning against reliever Michael Kopech. Lowe hit a single, Caballero hit a double and Alex Jackson worked a walk with no outs. Yandy Diaz sacrificed for a double play and Lowe scored. Jackson was thrown out at second base when he inexplicably decided to tag and run the fly ball to left. Brandon Lowe hit a pop-up to shortstop and the Rays trailed 7-6.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out five times and walked two.
Rays starter Taj Bradley allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out five times.
The Rays took a 4-0 lead against Kershaw in the first inning when the left-hander needed 30 pitches and brought in five baserunners in a row.
Caminero had an RBI single, Christopher Morel doubled and left fielder Teoscar Hernández’s fielding error allowed Caminero to score. DeLuca added two more runs with an RBI single.
Hernández hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.
TRAINING ROOM
Rays: C Ben Rortvedt has been removed from the family medical emergency list.
Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (elbow) played catcher for the first time since being placed on the injured list a week ago. He is expected to be out until September, but the team is optimistic he will return to pitching during the regular season.
Next
Rays: RHP Shane Baz (1-2, 3.48 ERA) faces the Dodgers for the first time in Sunday’s series finale. He has one win since July 3.
Dodgers: RHP Gavin Stone (11-5, 3.44) leads the team in wins, allowing two hits in seven scoreless innings and striking out a career-high 10 in his last game against Seattle.
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