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 Left fielder Joey Gallo hit a two-run home run, first baseman Prince
Fielder added a solo homer, and the Rangers earned a 5-3 win over
the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
The Rangers (36-30) used their third consecutive victory over the
Dodgers to remain 2 1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros
in the AL West, even though they are missing injured third baseman
Adrian Beltre and outfielder Josh Hamilton.
After 66 games last year, Texas was two games under .500 and trailed
the first-place Oakland A's by eight games.
Fielder attributed the change to the approach of new manager Jeff
Banister.
"It's not like everyone is healthy," Fielder said, "but we're still
able to play hard. That has a lot to do with 'Banny' and the way he
helped us created the whole mindset of this team in the spring. No
matter what's going on, we're still going to play hard."
Despite losing their third game in a row, the first-place Dodgers
continue to lead the second-place San Francisco Giants by 2 1/2
games in the National League West.
Fielder and third baseman Adam Rosales each had two of the Rangers'
eight hits, with Fielder hitting his 11th home run of the season in
the ninth inning. Second baseman Rougned Odor drove in two runs.
Texas left-hander Wandy Rodriguez (4-2) defused several potential
scoring opportunities in his 5 1/3-inning start. The 36-year-old
veteran allowed three runs, nine hits and a walk while getting two
strikeouts.
The Dodgers brought the potential tying run to the plate in the
bottom of the ninth inning when center fielder Joc Pederson walked
with one out. However, Rangers right-hander Keone Kela earned his
first major league save by getting first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to
fly out to Gallo in deep left field and striking out second baseman
Howie Kendrick.
Los Angeles left-hander Clayton Kershaw (5-4) amassed 10 strikeouts
in six innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits and
one walk while expressing uncharacteristically public frustration.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was asked if he had seen Kershaw
demonstrate that much exasperation on the mound.
"At times, but not that much," Mattingly said. "Clayton tonight
really is a bit of a picture of where we are right now as far as
frustration. We're not playing as well as we're capable of. Things
really aren't going the way we want at this moment."
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The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Fielder lined
a double into right-center field, moved to third base on Rosales'
single and scored on an unusual fielder's choice.
Odor hit a pop fly into short center field. Center fielder Chris
Heisey charged before letting the ball drop, then threw to Kendrick
to retire Rosales.
"This is a tough guy to string hits together against," Banister said
of Kershaw. "We tried to chip away and not take big swings. When we
got on base, we wanted to get some guys in motion."
Texas added two runs in the third on Gallo's two-run home run.
Rodriguez began the inning with his first hit in his first at-bat of
the season, a bloop single into center field. Two outs later, Gallo
pounded Kershaw's 88 mph slider halfway up the right field bleachers
for his fifth homer since being recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on
June 2.
"I was able to square a ball up, but it wasn't easy," Gallo said.
"His timing is pretty tough. The way he throws, it's kind of
herky-jerky. I had to see his arm slot and get my timing."
The Dodgers' mistakes enabled the Rangers to extend the lead to 4-0
in the top of the fourth. Kershaw struck out Rosales, but catcher
A.J. Ellis lost the ball, and Rosales reached base on the passed
ball. Kershaw then balked Rosales to second base, and Odor's single
up the middle brought Rosales home.
The hosts narrowed their deficit to 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
Left fielder Scott Van Slyke hit a two-run home run into the left
field bleachers. Shortstop Enrique Hernandez followed with a double
past Fielder's glove, then scored on pinch hitter Alex Guerrero's
one-out single that chased Rodriguez.
NOTES: The Rangers are playing at Dodger Stadium for the first time
since 2001. ... Texas scratched 1B Kyle Blanks about 90 minutes
before the first pitch because of Achilles tendinitis and replaced
him with 1B Prince Fielder. Blanks is the Rangers' only right-handed
hitter who can play first base. ... The Rangers' staff entered the
game with 12 successive quality starts, a team record. ... Los
Angeles activated OF Scott Van Slyke from the 15-day disabled list
and placed RHP Chris Hatcher on the DL with a strained left oblique
muscle. Van Slyke started in left field and batted sixth. ...
Dodgers LHP Paco Rodriguez is scheduled to make a rehab start
Wednesday night for Class A Rancho Cucamonga. ... Dodgers 1B Adrian
Gonzalez is second to the Arizona Diamondbacks' 1B Paul Goldschmidt
in All-Star voting for the National League's starter at the
position.
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reserved.]
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