Recap: Rangers Capitalize On Free Passes As Dodgers Spin Their Wheels
Gallardo continued to shut the Dodgers down while picking up two strikeouts in the fourth. Yasiel Puig got called for strike three on a low pitch while Gonzalez went down swinging. The third out came when Kendrick grounded to second. Likewise, Frias kept the Rangers off the bases by retiring Fielder, Mitch Moreland, and Elvis Andrus in order — striking out the latter two.
Although Turner was able to get his second hit of the evening with a leadoff single in the fifth, the Dodger offense remained quiet. Ethier hit into a double play and Rollins followed with a groundout after Grandal drew a two-out walk. The Rangers meanwhile had a chance to put a run on the board after Martin successfully stole second with one out. However, Frias got out of the inning unharmed after Kendrick handled a liner and Puig caught a fly ball.
The Dodgers had their best opportunity to that point in the game in the sixth as Gallardo walked Callaspo and Pederson to put two on with no outs. Puig lifted a fly ball to right field that caught carried by the wind and forced Shin-Soo Choo to suddenly backpedal to the warning track and make a catch on his heels.
Callasp didn’t tag on the play and the inning came to an end on a Gonzalez double play ball. Like Gallardo, Frias issued back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the sixth. However, unlike the Dodgers, the Rangers took advantage. Fielder smacked Frias’ first pitch up the middle for an RBI single that gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Moreland hit Frias’ next pitch to right that easily scored Gallo from second as Puig’s throw sailed up the third base line. After Elvis Andrus sacrificed both runners into scoring position, Adam Liberatore was called on to put the fire out. Rougned Odor drove in two more with a base hit before the left-hander managed to get out of the inning.
With the Dodgers trailing 4-0, Kendrick led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single. Nothing would come of it however, as Turner flied out and Ethier bounced into his second double play of the game. Yimi Garcia tossed a scoreless bottom of the seventh, ending it by striking out Gallo.
Tanner Scheppers relieved Gallardo to start the eighth and his first pitch resulted in a solo home run hit by Grandal. Callaspo’s one-out walk was followed by a Pederson base hit, bringing Puig to the plate representing the tying run.
Puig struck out for the third time and broke his bat across his knee in anger. Gonzalez fouled out and the Dodgers had to settle for the one run and a 4-1 deficit. Shawn Tolleson took the mound in the ninth to face his former team.
Kendrick hit a leadoff single, however Tolleson settled in and retired the next three batters to convert the save opportunity.
[divide]Joc Pederson On Game-Saving Catch
