Walker Buehler labored and the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup went through a lull, but it came after taking an early lead that propelled them to a 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers avoided losing a second consecutive series and moved into first place in the National League West.
One day removed from manager Dave Roberts acknowledging the offensive production the past four games was inconsistent at best, the Dodgers quickly found success — and some luck — against Eduardo Rodriguez.
Mookie Betts’ check-swing resulted in an infield single, and Freddie Freeman dropped a base hit into left field to put two on. Will Smith broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single to right field.
Smith finished 1-for-4 with the RBI and two strikeouts in his first start in the cleanup spot this season.
After singles by Hanser Alberto and Gavin Lux, Betts’ grounder to third base that could have been an inning-ending double play instead resulted in a throwing error on Jeimer Candelario. Freddie Freeman followed with an RBI double and Trea Turner’s groundout extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
Turner went 0-for-4 and had his on-base streak snapped at 39 games.
Rodriguez then proceeded to retire 12 in a row, which kept pressure on Buehler. The Dodgers’ starter faced traffic in each of the first four innings, including the bases loaded in the second.
Although Buehler wasn’t sharp in his first start since throwing a complete-game shutout, he did manage to consistently find success against Miguel Cabrera by striking him out three times in as many at-bats.
Buehler allowed six hits, issued one walk, collected five strikeouts and threw 92 pitches over five scoreless innings.
The Tigers avoided being shut out thanks to a two-run home run from Miguel Cabrera in the eighth inning, and Candelario’s solo shot in the ninth.
Dodgers lineup adds on
A criticism of the Dodgers lineup through the first month of the regular season has been their struggles to consistently add onto leads.
That was holding true again Sunday, until Chris Taylor snapped Rodriguez’s string of retired batters with a one-out single in the seventh inning. Cody Bellinger then ended an 0-for-21 skid since being named National League Player of the Week with an RBI double.
A Javier Báez error resulted in the Dodgers scoring a second run that ultimately proved key as the Tigers put some traffic on the bases in the ninth inning and brought the tying run to the plate.
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