Steve Webb
Game 131, 8/25/2024: Dodgers 3, Rays 1
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Gavin Stone, it’s time for your closeup! After a rocky couple of months, the Dodgers righty seems to be locked in once again. The Dodgers secured a thrilling 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium, thanks to a stellar start from Stone and late-game heroics by Mookie Betts. Betts drilled a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th to break a 1-1 tie and deliver the series win against the Rays.
Stone was dominant from the outset, showcasing his command and poise on the mound. He efficiently retired the side in the first inning with a flyout, a strikeout, and a groundout. His performance continued to shine through the early innings, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run over seven innings of work. Stone’s ability to keep the Rays’ hitters off balance was a key factor in maintaining a tight game. His lone blemish came in the seventh, when former minor league teammate Jonny DeLuca took Stone yard with a drive to left that just cleared the fence.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Kike Hernández broke the deadlock with a solo home run to center field, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0. The Rays responded in the seventh inning with the jack from DeLuca to tie it up at 1-1. This set the stage for a dramatic finish.
After Stone’s impressive outing, Blake Treinen took over in the eighth inning and continued to stifle the Rays’ offense, pitching a scoreless frame. Treinen’s sharp breaking pitches kept the Rays from mounting any sort of rally.
In the eighth inning, after Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch from Drew Rasmussen (not cool, bro), Mookie Betts stepped up to the plate and delivered a clutch two-run home run to left-center field. Betts’ blast, his 13th of the season, electrified the home crowd and gave the Dodgers a crucial 3-1 lead. This moment highlighted Betts’ ability to come through in high-pressure situations, reinforcing his reputation as one of the game’s top performers in critical moments.
The Dodgers’ bullpen held firm, with Anthony Banda delivering a scoreless ninth to seal the victory. But the story of this one was Gavin Stone delivering a second straight impressive start. Stone’s mix of pitches and his ability to keep the Rays guessing were pivotal in the Dodgers’ success. His final line of seven innings pitched, three hits, one run, two walks, and seven strikeouts underscores the quality of his start.
The win over the Rays demonstrated the Dodgers’ depth and versatility, with contributions coming from both young talent like Stone and seasoned veterans like Betts. As the season progresses, performances like these will be crucial in their pursuit of success in the postseason.
After an offday on Monday, the Baltimore Orioles come into LA and try to keep pace with the AL East leading Yankees. The Dodgers will send former Oriole Jack Flaherty to the mound on Tuesday, followed by Walker Buehler on Wednesday. Let’s go, Dodgers!
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