Dodgers Video: Justin Turner Ties Game In 9th With Clutch Home Run

One night after filling in at first base so Adrian Gonzalez could stay off his feet and serve as the designated hitter, Justin Turner was back at third base with the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to avoid a two-game sweep at Global Life Park.

The Dodgers again fell in an early hole, trailing 1-0 after the first inning. However, Brett Anderson settled in from there, allowing only one more run in the fifth. As Anderson worked to keep the Dodgers in the game, Chi Chi Gonzalez continued to shut them out.

Gonzalez got plenty of hitters to swing early, needing just 15 pitches to get through two scoreless innings. The young right-hander largely stayed out of trouble and took the mound in the ninth with the Rangers still clinging to a 2-0 lead.

After Howie Kendrick drew a one-out walk, Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux visited Gonzalez on the mound. He remained the game at 104 pitches and two outs away from a second complete-game win in just four career starts.

However, Gonzalez’s first pitch to Justin Turner was crushed to left field that tied the score and knocked Gonzalez out of the game.

It was Turner’s lone hit on the night and before any questions could be asked, he provided an explanation for the home run, via J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News:

Justin Turner pre-empted the first question from reporters tonight: "I swung Joc's bat. That's the adjustment I made in the fourth at-bat."

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) June 17, 2015

While Turner’s home run injected some life into the Dodgers, they lost in the bottom of the ninth on a Robinson Chirinos walk-off home run.

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