Steve Webb
Game 96, 7/13/2024: Dodgers 9, Tigers 11
DETROIT, MI — If the Dodgers were a hunting dog, we’d be tempted at this point to take it out behind the barn and shoot it to take it out of its misery. In a stunning turn of events at Comerica Park, the Dodgers saw a commanding lead slip through their fingers as the Detroit Tigers mounted an incredible comeback, largely due to the Dodgers’ bullpen collapse in the 9th inning. Heading into the frame with a comfortable 9-4 lead, they end up dropping the game 11-9 in ten innings.
The game had begun with promise for the Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani leading off with a triple. A subsequent RBI fielder’s choice from Freddie Freeman put the Dodgers on the board early. Despite the Tigers’ response with a two-run double from Colt Keith in the second inning, the Dodgers seemed to regain control. Ohtani’s solo home run in the fifth inning marked his 200th career homer and gave the Dodgers a slight edge. Gavin Lux’s two-run single later in the inning extended their lead to 5-2.
The Tigers kept clawing back, however, with solo home runs by Ryan Vilade and Andy Ibáñez in the fifth inning, trimming the Dodgers’ lead to 5-4. Yet, the Dodgers continued to build their lead, with Enrique Hernández hitting a two-run homer in the seventh inning to make it 8-4. An additional sacrifice fly from Freddie Freeman in the eighth brought the score to 9-4, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
Entering the bottom of the 9th, the Dodgers held a comfortable 9-4 lead. Ricky Vanasco was brought in to secure the win but immediately ran into trouble. Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy each singled, and Matt Vierling‘s double brought both runners home, narrowing the gap to 9-6. With the pressure mounting, Evan Phillips replaced Vanasco, but he could not stop the bleeding. After an RBI single from Carson Kelly, Colt Keith launched a game-tying two-run homer, stunning the Dodgers and leveling the score at 9-9.
The Dodgers loaded up the bases in the top of the tenth, but Freddie Freeman hit into an unfortunate double play to end the inning, and give the Tigers a chance to walk it off.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Tigers capitalized on their momentum. A sacrifice bunt advanced the placed runner, Ryan Vilade, to third. Then, Gio Urshela delivered the final blow with a two-run homer, sealing an 11-9 victory for Detroit.
This collapse was a harsh reminder of the volatility and unpredictability inherent in baseball, particularly with these Dodgers wheezing their way to the finish line. Has there ever been a team that needed the All-Star break more badly? Yeesh.
The first half of the season comes to a merciful end on Sunday afternoon, with a bullpen game against the Tigers (10:40 PDT first pitch). And then, the Dodgers need to collectively sit in a room somewhere and consider what their lives have become. Yeesh.
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