Freddie Freeman scored one run and drove in another, breaking the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 18-inning scoreless drought and leading them to a 3-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday to clinch the series.
The deadlock ended in the sixth inning when Andy Pages delivered a go-ahead single off Mason Englert (0-1) to plate Freeman. In the seventh, Shohei Ohtani singled, promptly stole second and third base, and then scored on an RBI single by Freeman. Ohtani added an insurance run in the ninth when he doubled and came home on a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts.
Winning pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-7) was masterful, scattering five hits and striking out six over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. His counterpart, Rays starter Joe Boyle, held the Dodgers scoreless through five effective frames, working around three hits and two walks. Ben Casparius secured his second career save, entering with the bases loaded in the ninth to get the final out.
Freeman, who finished with three hits and seven RBI in the series, extended his on-base streak to 18 games. In contrast, Mookie Betts, who was dropped from the leadoff spot, went hitless in the series and is now 0-for-16 in his last four games. Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman exited the game in the fifth inning with a right ankle sprain.
The Dodgers will now host the St. Louis Cardinals, with Tyler Glasnow (1-1, 3.98 ERA) scheduled to start Monday. The Rays will travel to face the Los Angeles Angels, where Adrian Houser (6-2, 2.10) is slated to make his debut for the team.
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