Los Angeles trailed by one run entering the sixth inning. Freddie Freeman ended that quickly. His two-run homer to center — 407 feet — put the Dodgers ahead 5-4, and that lead held the rest of the way in a 5-4 win over Tampa Bay on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Shohei Ohtani started and worked six innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 91 pitches. He picked up his seventh win against two losses, carrying a 1.47 ERA. Alex Vesia worked the ninth, issuing 3 walks but allowing no hits, to earn his third save of the season.
The Dodgers built a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Alex Call scored on a single by Alex Freeland, who had driven in Call after Call himself had scored on a single to left. Tampa Bay answered emphatically in the fifth, scoring all four of its runs in the inning. Victor Mesa Jr. scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Walls, Hunter Feduccia came home on a single by Díaz, Díaz scored on a fielder's choice by Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda crossed the plate on a single by Richie Palacios to give the Rays a 4-2 lead. Los Angeles cut it to 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth when Freddie Freeman scored on a walk to Kyle Tucker. Then Freeman provided the go-ahead blow in the sixth, sending Andy Pages and himself home with his homer to center.
Tampa Bay's Kevin Kelly took the loss, falling to 4-3. He allowed 2 runs on 3 hits over 1.2 innings, throwing 33 pitches. The Rays' offense generated 4 runs in that one fifth-inning burst but went quiet the rest of the game.
The Dodgers improved to 47-27, extending their winning streak to two games and holding first place in their division. Tampa Bay dropped to 41-29, losing for the second straight game. Mookie Betts is 2 away from 300 career home runs and 1 away from 400 career doubles. Miguel Rojas is 1 away from 200 career doubles. Kyle Tucker is 1 away from 500 career runs scored.