- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,213,976
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images
Jul 17, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) follows through on a two run home run against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Dodgers (62-36) opened the second half of the season with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Yankees (54-43) at Yankee Stadium Friday night.
Roki Sasaki impressed with one of his best starts of the year. Sasaki limited a potent Yankees lineup to just five hits and one walk while striking out five batters. The only run surrendered on his watch was of the unearned variety.
The Dodgers committed nine errors over their last five games before the All-Star break, and it looked as if the shaky defense spilled into the second half. The defense finally came together to make a spectacular relay play to maintain a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Sasaki used all three of his pitches to induce swings and misses all night from the Yankees batters. His fastball reached more than 100-mph with location, and his nasty splitter was nearly unhittable.
Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez collected consecutive two-out singles against Cole in the second inning. Dalton Rushing wasn’t able to take advantage, striking out against Cole to strand both runners.
In the third, Andy Pages also managed a two-out single off Cole. Freddie Freeman struck out on a slider to strand another runner.
A Ryan McMahon double and walk to Trent Grisham in the bottom of the third were erased after Ben Rice grounded into a timely double play.
Poor defense reared his ugly ahead again in the bottom of the fourth for the Dodgers. A bobbling fielding error by Pages in center field allowed Jasson Domínguez to reach third base on what should have been contained to a double. Then a passed ball by Rushing allowed the first run of the game to score, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead.
Jack Dreyer got the job done in relief of Sasaki when he struck out Domínguez with two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth.
Cole was cruising through the game, but it was also the first time he ventured into the 100-plus pitch mark since returning from injury.
The turning point in the game came when Max Muncy crushed a no-doubt two-run home run against Cole to flip the script and give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Ben Rice hit a booming double to the center field gap with an out in the bottom of the eighth. Mookie Betts made a spectacular throw home to Dalton to tag out the sliding Grisham. It was a fantastic relay all around. Pages recovered the ball, hit deep to the gap. Betts skillfully snatched the relay throw to send it across his body to home plate. Dalton also made an incredible grab on the other side of the plate. He brought the ball back around to tag Grisham and preserve the one-run lead.
It was a satisfying way for the defense to make amends for the earlier miscue which led to the unearned New York run.
Tanner Scott shut down the Yankees in order in the ninth to pick up the save and help the Dodgers start off the second half with a win.
Friday particulars
Home runs: Max Muncy (18)
WP — Jack Dreyer (4-1): 1 1/3 IP, 2 strikeouts
LP — Gerrit Cole (3-5): 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts (103 pitches)
Sv — Tanner Scott (14): 1 IP, 1 strikeout
Up next
The Dodgers and Yankees battle again on Saturday when Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) takes on Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) at (5:08 p.m. PT, Fox).
Continue reading...
