Caballero hits two-run home run off Kelly in 10th inning to lift Rays to 9-8 win over Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jose Caballero The Rays hit a game-tying, two-run home run off Joe Kelly in the 10th inning after Tampa Bay squandered a 4-0 lead in the first and the Rays rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 on Saturday night.
“It helped us a lot,” his teammate said. Junior Caminero “I probably yelled louder than he did.”
Jonny DeLuca led off the 10th inning as the designated runner on second, moved to third on Josh Lowe’s groundout and scored on Caballero’s throw to left-center field against Kelly (1-1).
“There’s times he comes in and he’s healthy, and other times he struggles,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Certainly it’s been inconsistent.”
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips allowed the game-tying home run to Caminero in the top of the ninth inning before striking out the next three batters.
Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run to give his team the lead in the fifth round, a night after the Japanese superstar became the fastest player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases.
Ohtani led off the bottom of the 10th inning against Garrett Cleavinger and sent a huge fly to right that was caught. Designated runner Miguel Rojas The Dodgers advanced to third base and scored on Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly to center field, leaving the Dodgers trailing 9-8. Freddie Freeman homered to second to end the game.
“Guys are having good at-bats. There’s a fight,” Roberts said. “Tonight, we just didn’t pitch well. We had a chance to win, but we couldn’t get them.”
Manuel Rodriguez (3-3) got the win with one inning of relief. Cleavinger earned his fourth save.
“Our offense did a great job of scoring two points, which made things a lot easier,” Cleavinger said. “Guys played really well against good players.”
Trailing 5-3, Max Muncy doubled in the top of the fifth, moved to third on a groundout by Tommy Edman and scored on a single by Rojas. Ohtani followed with his home run that was greeted by chants of “MVP! MVP!”
Rojas added 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 Rays’ last few outs loaded the bases in the eighth inning against reliever Michael Kopech. Lowe singled, Caballero doubled and Alex Jackson walked with no outs. Yandy Diaz sacrificed for a double play, allowing Lowe to score. Jackson was tagged out at second when he inexplicably decided to tag and run on a fly ball to left. Brandon Lowe hit a pop-up to shortstop to leave the Rays down 7-6.
“It’s definitely a roller coaster,” Cleavinger said. “We’re used to that here, winning streaks.”
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw He allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. He struck out five batters and walked two.
“He just wasn’t very sharp,” Roberts said. “He couldn’t put hitters away and they were putting balls in play.”
Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out five batters.
The Rays took a 4-0 lead against Kershaw in the first inning, when the left-hander needed 30 pitches while putting five runners on base in a row.
Caminero singled, Christopher Morel doubled and a fielding error by left fielder Teoscar Hernández allowed Caminero to score. DeLuca added two runs on a single.
Hernandez hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Rays: C Ben Rortvedt was reinstated to the family medical emergency list.
Dodgers: Right-handed pitcher Tyler Glasnow (elbow) played catch for the first time since being placed on the disabled list a week ago. He is expected to be out until September, but the team is optimistic he can pitch again during the regular season.
FOLLOWING
Rays: Right-handed pitcher Shane Baz (1-2, 3.48 ERA) faces the Dodgers for the first time in Sunday’s series finale. He has just one win since July 3.
Dodgers: Right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone (11-5, 3.44 ERA) leads the team in wins. He scattered two hits in seven scoreless innings and had a career-high 10 strikeouts against Seattle in his last start.
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