Steve Webb
Game 95, 7/12/2024: Dodgers 4, Tigers 3
DETROIT, MI — Finally! Some clutch hitting! Thanks to a couple of late inning rallies, the Dodgers snapped their four-game losing streak tonight in Detroit. The team staged a thrilling comeback against the Tigers at Comerica Park, clinching a 4-3 victory in a game filled with excitement and tension.
In the first three innings, the Dodgers struggled to make a mark. Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman couldn’t get on base, while the Tigers’ Riley Greene and Justyn-Henry Malloy propelled Detroit to an early 3-0 lead. Greene’s two-run double and Malloy’s RBI triple set the stage, putting pressure on the Dodgers. James Paxton struggled in those early innings, but managed to keep the score relatively close. Which was incredibly important since the Tigers’ ace and Cy Young contender Tarik Skubal was on the mound for Detroit. Paxton went 3.2 innings before giving up the ball to the bullpen, giving up those three runs on five hits.
In the fourth inning the Dodgers finally broke through against Skubal. Freddie Freeman hit a solo home run, sparking hope for the Dodgers. This was followed by an RBI single from Andy Pages, bringing the score to 3-2. Despite these efforts, the Dodgers found themselves unable to capitalize further in the middle innings, despite having some chances. Nope, they would have to wait Skubal out and try to attack the pen.
The Dodgers’ defense and bullpen kept the Tigers at bay, albeit with an unusual look. Rather than closing, Evan Phillips handled the sixth. That was followed by a scoreless seventh from Blake Treinen, highlighted by a crucial pickoff of Riley Greene, preventing any further runs.
Then, in the top of the eighth, the Dodgers tied the game on three straight two-out singles from Smith, Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez. Michael Peterson was able to lock things down in the bottom of the inning, so the contest went into the ninth knotted at three.
The ninth inning showcased the Dodgers’ resilience, highlighted by a couple of knocks from places we don’t necessarily expect. Chris Taylor hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a hit by Austin Barnes. Gavin Lux was unable to score the runner when he popped out on the infield for the second out, leaving it up to Shohei Ohtani and the top of the order. With no margin for error, Shohei delivered a clutch ground-rule double, driving in Taylor and putting the Dodgers ahead 4-3. It was the first lead that the Dodgers have had the entire road trip. The Dodgers were unable to tack on anything more, so it was on to the bottom of the ninth and Daniel Hudson.
Things got off to a sub-optimal start when Hudson walked two of the first three Tigers, putting the tying and winning run on base with just one out. However, Huddy struck out Matt Vierling and induced a flyout from Riley Greene to secure the win.
With a win in their pocket off the Tigers’ best starter, the Dodgers have a couple of day games coming up to finish their first-half schedule. It’s going to be rookie Justin Wrobleski on Saturday, and probably Johnny Wholestaff on Sunday to take the team into the All-Star break. Both games are early ones, 10:10 AM PST on Saturday, and 10:40 PST on Sunday. And then, it’s off to Texas.
