LOS ANGELES – When your life flashes before your eyes, you tend to make changes.
A prime example of this was the Dodgers on Sunday, when Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch on the left wrist and Mookie Betts took the lead with a home run in the eighth inning, securing a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was an eventful weekend for Dodgers do-it-all Ohtani, who reached the 40-40 club with a stolen base and a home run on Friday and added another home run on Saturday.
On Sunday, he scored the deciding run after being hit by a 92-mph sinker by Rays left-hander Richard Lovelady. Ohtani clutched his left wrist while making an awkward run to first base, but stayed in the game without a visit from the training staff.
What began as the Dodgers’ worst nightmare instantly turned into a feeling of happiness.
Betts jumped on the next pitch, an 88-mph slider from Lovelady that put the Dodgers ahead for good. It was Betts’ 13th of the season and his third since returning from a broken hand earlier this month.
Right-hander Gavin Stone delivered his third straight strong outing, allowing one run on three hits in seven innings. He had seven strikeouts with two walks after setting a career-high with 10 strikeouts.
Stone has allowed a total of two runs in his last three appearances in his impressive rookie season.
Kiké Hernandez broke a scoreless tie with a home run in the fifth inning against Rays left-hander Jacob Lopez. It was his ninth home run of the season and his second of the Series, both against left-handers.
Stone was on a roll until former Dodger Jonny DeLuca hit a home run off the top of the left outfield wall in the seventh inning, tying the game at 1-1.
After the bullpen struggled to keep the Rays in check on Saturday, Blake Treinen (6-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning after Stone and Anthony Banda delivered a scoreless ninth inning for his second save.
Dodgers rookie catcher Hunter Feduccia made his first start as a catcher and got his first hit with a single in the seventh inning.
