By Zachary McMahon
The Tampa Bay Rays were down in Los Angeles facing the Dodgers at Dodgers Stadium for the second game of the weekend series on Saturday night. The Dodgers won after Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off grand slam to win the game.
Rays catcher Ben Rortvedt was activated off the bereavement list and the paternity list, so catcher Rob Brantly was designated for assignment after three games in the majors.
The Dodgers released Jason Heyward after designating him for assignment two days ago, as his time with the Dodgers comes to an end, as he was hitting .208 in 2024, which if the season ended today would be the second lowest batting average of his career, with 2022 with the Chicago Cubs being lower with .204.
Clayton Kershaw made his sixth start of the season, tossing five innings, allowing season highs of nine hits, and five earned runs with two walks and five strikeouts. Los Angeles native Taj Bradley pitched six innings for the Rays, tossed six innings, allowed seven hits and five earned runs while having no walks and five strikeouts.
The Rays blew the game wide open with a four-run first inning, which started with a double by Brandon Lowe, who came home on a Junior Caminero single. Christopher Morel hit a double, and then Josh DeLuca hit a two-run single as the Rays led 4-0.
Mookie Betts brought Ohtani home on a RBI double in the fourth inning and then Teoscar Hernandez hit a two-run home run as they cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the inning.
Caminero came home on a Josh Lowe sacrifice fly in the fifth, and the Dodgers took the lead with a two-run home run by Ohtani, as he’s homered in six out of the last 12 games. Josh Rojas padded the lead with a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Caminero tied the game in the ninth, as he extended the game and went into extra innings. Jose Caballero hit a two-run home run in the top of the 10th. Betts brought home Rojas to cut the deficit, but that would not be enough because the Rays win over the Dodgers in 10 innings, 9-8.
Caminero had his first career three-hit game, as he hit two singles and a homer for the Rays. Caballero with a double and a homer, has hits in 11 out of his last 16 games. Dylan Carlson hit a ground rule double, and he’s now reached in 12 out of his 13 starts with the Rays, and has hit safely in seven of his last eight games against the Dodgers. Yandy Diaz hit two singles as he’s reached base in 13 out of his last 14 games. Brandon Lowe doubled twice, as 11 out of his last 12 hits have been extra-base hits (seven doubles, and four homers).
Ohtani extended his seven-game hitting streak with a single and a home run.
The teams will play the series finale today at 4:10 pm with Jacob Lopez going up against Gavin Stone.
Sports Insider Daily 