Steve Webb
Game 97: 7/14/2024: Dodgers 3, Tigers 4
DETROIT, MI — Ugh. That was rough. In a dramatic and tense final inning at Comerica Park, the Dodgers ended the first half of the season with a crushing 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. Despite a strong start and early lead, Los Angeles and their depleted bullpen couldn’t hold on, culminating in a disappointing loss.
The Dodgers started strong in the first inning, setting the tone early. Shohei Ohtani lined out sharply to center, but Will Smith‘s double and Freddie Freeman‘s flyout set the stage for Teoscar Hernández, who delivered with an RBI double, bringing Smith home for the first run. Andy Pages followed suit with a sharp single, allowing Hernández to score, extending the lead to 2-0. A throwing error by Detroit’s shortstop Zach McKinstry allowed Andy Pages to score, putting the Dodgers up 3-0.
New Dodger Brent Honeywell took the mound for the Dodgers, displaying dominance early by striking out Wenceel Pérez and Colt Keith consecutively in the first inning. The Tigers struggled to make contact, with Honeywell retiring the side with ease. Honeywell did well in his Dodger debut, going three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit.
However, after the strong first inning, the Dodgers’ bats went quiet, and the Tigers crawled back into the game. Ryan Yarbrough replaced Honeywell in the fourth inning, and the Tigers began to chip away at the lead. Colt Keith and Matt Vierling‘s hits set up a sacrifice fly by Gio Urshela, scoring Keith. By the end of the sixth inning, Detroit had closed the gap to 3-2, with former Dodger Zach McKinstry driving in a run.
The Dodgers’ defense and pitching held up until the ninth inning, but things fell apart quick on Yohan Ramirez. Zach McKinstry tripled to lead off and scored on Justyn-Henry Malloy‘s single, tying the game. Then, things got comically bad. Ryan Vilade popped up a bunt, but Ramirez was unable to field it cleanly, allowing everyone to reach safely. Then, the disaster. Another bunt, this one off the bat of Wenceel Perez. Ramirez fielded the bunt this time, but decided to try a hero play and get the lead runner at third. Instead, the ball went wildly by Kike Hernandez and headed into the outfield, allowing Malloy to scamper home with the game winner. Ugh.
In the end, the Dodgers just didn’t have enough bullpen to record 27 outs on Sunday. They got off to a good start, but couldn’t overcome late-game errors and Detroit’s persistence. With a 3-0 lead squandered, the loss highlighted areas needing improvement, especially in clutch defensive moments and bullpen reliability. The team will need to regroup and refocus as they head into the All-Star break, aiming to bounce back from this heart-wrenching defeat.
The next game will be at home on Friday night as Kenley Jansen and the surprising Red Sox roll into town. Hopefully, there will be a rested and re-energized Dodger team at the Ravine, ready to take on the second half of the season.
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