Miguel Rojas stepped up for the Dodgers, securing the lead late in the game on Monday night.
This time, the bullpen held strong.
In a nail-biting 4-3 victory against the Rays at Dodger Stadium, the team bounced back from an early three-run deficit. Kyle Tucker’s home run was pivotal, and Rojas brought in the first lead of the night with a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning. The bullpen managed to pitch three innings without allowing any runs, recovering from a tough series loss over the weekend and starting a six-game homestand on a high note.
Rojas’ big hit mirrored his unforgettable home run in last year’s World Series Game 7, at least in terms of its impact.
What stood out, though, was the bullpen’s performance.
Before this game, their ERA was sitting at 7.51 for June—remarkably the worst in the league.
After Eric Lauer’s three-run homer in the sixth, courtesy of a defensive mishap by the Dodgers, the bullpen redeemed itself. Kyle Hart, Will Klein, Alex Beshear, and Tanner Scott collectively delivered scoreless innings.
What It Means
Following a disappointing road trip against the White Sox, where they lost two out of three, the Dodgers (46-27) made a much-needed comeback on Monday. They improved to 8-6 in June and have a solid record of 22-9 since mid-May.
They’ve also taken the upper hand against the Rays (41-28) in this matchup. The Rays, who had dominated in May, find themselves second in the American League East now.
In the National League West, the Dodgers remain eight games behind the San Diego Padres.
Who Is Hot
It’s evident that Dodgers fans still have mixed feelings about Tucker. He received only half the All-Star votes of Andy Pages, and 100,000 fewer than the injured Teoscar Hernandez.
On Monday, however, he showcased his skills—a key reason for the Dodgers’ $240 million investment in him.
He smashed a three-run homer in the second inning, erasing the three-run deficit. It was his second home run this season at Dodger Stadium.
In the third inning, Tucker made a critical play, throwing a runner out at home and preventing further damage, leaving the score tied at 3-3.
He ended the night going 2-for-4 but had a few missed opportunities, with a crucial strikeout in the sixth and a flyout in the eighth despite having a runner on second. For the season, his batting average is now at .239 with a .725 OPS.
Who Is Not?
The Rays’ batting luck didn’t favor them this time.
Despite having only seven strikeouts, their efforts were stymied by the Dodgers’ solid defense.
Tucker’s assist in the outfield was a standout moment. There was also a pivotal double play during Lauer’s sixth-inning stint—helping him finish with a quality 3.22 ERA in his four starts for the Dodgers. Additionally, some impressive defensive plays were made by Max Muncy at third base and Mookie Betts at shortstop.
To the Next
The Dodgers and Rays will keep the series going on Tuesday night, with Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95 ERA) returning after four days rest to take on Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71 ERA).
