Ross Stripling continued to be plagued by the home run ball but the Los Angeles Dodgers received one each from Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy in a 7-4 win over the Texas Rangers. It sets the stage for a rubber match Sunday as L.A. looks to avoid losing their first series of the season.
Potentially making his final start with the Rangers and in an audition for the Dodgers before the trade deadline, Lance Lynn allowed four runs (three earned) across six innings. It was a seventh time in eight starts this season the veteran right-hander went at least six frames.
Lynn would have allowed more damage if not for Globe Life Park again living up to its pitcher-friendly reputation. Drives by Max Muncy and Joc Pederson to right field resulted in a fly out caught at the top of the wall and a sacrifice fly, respectively.
That wasn’t the case for Bellinger, who pulled a fastball from Lynn down the right-field line for a towering two-run home run that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0 in the third.
Stripling nearly coughed it up as he surrendered back-to-back home runs to start the bottom half of the inning. It ran his total to 12 homers allowed this season in just 31.2 innings. He gave up 11 across 90.2 innings pitched last season.
Stripling exited with two on and nobody out in the fifth. Blake Treinen limited the damage to one run, which closed the book on Stripling.
Muncy broke the game open with a three-run homer in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference. Corey Seager’s two-out throwing error in the bottom of the seventh resulted in a run scoring, but the Dodgers bullpen otherwise held up despite a shaky eighth from Brusdar Graterol.
Gavin Lux still searching
Gavin Lux was recalled Saturday and started for only a second time this season. He went 0-for-4 and is hitless thus far. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the bulk of Lux’s starts will come against right-handed pitching.
Lux is expected to be in the lineup again Sunday.
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