TAMPA, Fla. – Florida, man.
The temperature at game time Sunday was 91 degrees with a heat index – a mythical contrivance to quantify your discomfort – that made it “feel like” 107. It was a fit day for nothing more than umbrella drinks and pool floaties.
But the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays were contractually obligated to play a game in the great outdoors of Steinbrenner Field. The Dodgers stirred from the humidity-induced lethargy long enough to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0, taking two of three in the most uncomfortable conditions they hope to experience this year.
The last two games were day games, played in the most unpleasant hours of the day. The Dodgers went home from their three-city, nine-game, 10-day road trip sunblind and still slumping offensively but with consecutive series victories for the first time in a month.
Sunday’s starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto went about his business, unburdened by offensive support once again. The Dodgers scored just once during his 5 ⅔ innings and have scored a total of 39 runs while Yamamoto has been in the game during his 22 starts this season.
He held the Rays to five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six before handing the shutout over to the bullpen in the sixth inning
The Dodgers had given him a lead by then – barely.
Freddie Freeman led off the top of the sixth with the second of his three hits, a single. It was Freeman’s third multi-hit game in the series. Over his past 12 games, he has gone 19 for 48 (.396) with three doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs.
He moved to second when Michael Conforto drew a walk then was loping around third on Andy Pages’ single to left field when third-base coach Dino Ebel waved him home. It was an aggressive send and a good one. Freeman just beat the throw home to end a stretch of 18 scoreless innings by the Dodgers’ offense.
It being too hot to score more than one run at a time, they scratched out another in the seventh inning.
Back in the leadoff spot, Shohei Ohtani dribbled a ball onto the grass in front of home plate and beat it out for an infield single. He stole second. After Mookie Betts walked, the two took off on a successful double steal.
Ohtani scored on another Freeman single but the inning died there after Will Smith bounced into a double play.
In the ninth, the Dodgers added another run after Alex Call walked, went to third on a hustling double by Ohtani then scored on a sacrifice fly by Betts. Freeman just missed a fourth hit when left fielder Jake Mangum jumped up at the wall to catch his drive.
With the meager offensive output Sunday, the Dodgers have averaged just 3.7 runs per game over their past 27.
Picking up from Yamamoto, Alex Vesia and Brock Stewart (in his Dodgers’ re-debut) carried the shutout into the ninth inning. In his second appearance since returning from the Injured List, Blake Treinen struggled with his command. He walked two and gave up a hit to load the bases with two outs before Ben Casparius came in and got Yandy Diaz on a ground out.
Originally Published:
