Wednesday’s game was, frankly, a bit frustrating for the Dodgers during much of the afternoon.
The batting lineup squandered some key opportunities early, managing to score just one run with two bases-loaded situations in the fourth and fifth innings.
Shohei Ohtani, despite a knee injury from the previous week, made his 12th start this season but struggled significantly, allowing four runs in the fifth inning.
With a chance to sweep the Rays, the Dodgers seemed poised to let it slip from their grasp.
However, this team has a unique ability to stay competitive, finding ways to turn the game around quickly.
Wednesday turned out to be another example of that resilience as Freddie Freeman blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, leading the team to a 5-4 victory.
In a way, those missed opportunities didn’t really matter in the end. Ohtani couldn’t recover from the four earned runs in his sixth inning.
Freeman, facing a well-placed sinker from Rays’ pitcher Kevin Kelly, elevated the lead from one run to three with his home run, marking the club’s 12th of the season.
Implications
The Dodgers (48-27) rebounded nicely from their first series loss in over a month, bouncing back against the Rays (41-30).
This victory also marked their first series sweep since facing the Rockies last month, and it was the first time they faced a team with a winning record since early April.
Having played 75 games, they still hold the top record in the majors.
Current Highlights
Who’s on Fire
Just a month ago, it seemed Freeman was struggling, hitting .254 with an OPS of .737 during a slump.
But instead of panicking, he adjusted his swing and trusted the process, a typical approach for him in his lengthy career.
Since making those adjustments, he’s returned to his All-Star caliber performance.
After Wednesday’s homer, Freeman is batting .323 over 27 games since May 19, with 8 home runs, 14 extra-base hits, and an OPS exceeding 1.000.
This puts him back in the running for the season (.279 average, .850 OPS) and leading in All-Star voting for National League first basemen, aiming for his 10th selection.
Who’s Struggling
Manager Dave Roberts mentioned before the game that Will Smith is recovering from a neck injury and has participated on the field this week.
Yet, he may not be taken off the disabled list even if eligible on Friday, as he is expected to miss at least 10 days due to an inflamed disc.
“We just want to make sure he’s symptom-free upon his return,” Roberts explained, adding that he’s not completely out of the woods yet.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers will take Thursday off before kicking off a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
