Texas @ Dodgers. Game 1 of 3 game series. Standings. MLB the Show 24.

e [Music] and welcome in everybody glad you're with us inter league baseball on MLB The Show it's the Texas Rangers taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers first pitch coming your way next just about set to go now and on the hill for the Dodgers Walker berer Chris what should we keep an eye on here with him and a guy like this is going to keep you in the ball game he's going to go out there compete not going to see a whole lot of flare and Flash but he's going to hand it over to the bullpen at some point and if you've been able to score a few runs you'll be in it late so we'll see if he's able to do that for his Club in this one all right ready to go here here's Leo as he turns on the rubber here with that good live arm delivers and that one's a little bit low and that's how this series [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Begins the wi of the pitch and another ball [Music] hard ground ball base KN so a man on base to start the inning everything came together for him wasn't able to elevate that one but he sure hit it hard enough to get through the infield there's not a whole lot of time for The Defenders to react and try to make a play when it's ripped like that and now a chance to maybe get creative on offense with good speed on first so next to hit for Texas Evan car he's done a great job making contact recently currently owns a seven game hitting streak just missed this might be a steal situation but that's not your average catcher behind the dish you have to be careful here runner at first with no outs [Applause] here maybe a two balll five four three but it's not in time and they just get one tough play right there didn't really have enough time to set his feet and make a strong accurate throw had to rush it but he got it off and he got it there in time to get that out at second base so now it's Cory Seager buer look to first you know Cory Seager would have been named the American League MVP in 2023 if it wasn't for some guy named sh Otani St out shine a two-way player but Seager did his best by putting together a full season with impressive [Applause] numbers drilled out towards left center field that's well struck and that gets down into the Gap around third he will score and the Rangers Take the Lead one nothing puts a run on the board and picks up an RBI just a great approach looked like that was exactly what he wanted to do with that pitch and right off the bat he knew he was taking that wide turn at first to head for second one down here's a big Power threat ad dois Garcia that one drifts inside what to know one out and a runner at second and we're just getting started here in the top of the [Applause] first and that one pulled foul looked like you got a little excited on that fast ball got to think to yourself want to stay up the middle that way if you're a little bit early you hit it out of the ballpark if you're a little late opposite field not and a good eye there two one next offering way off the plate that Clips the corner great ball swing and a ball lifted to center field outman makes the play and there's two [Applause] away that and now we take a look at the Rangers lineup a guy who's been huge for them over the last month plus Ezekiel Duran well boo you know I love guys that can run and this guy has great speed we'll see in this game if he gets a chance to use it and if he does I think even you are going to be really impressed because he can really impact the game with his wheels and you like guys that can score score he's definitely able to do that here is Marcus Simon that one way outside and that is ball one runner at second two down you're in game one of this three- game set fast ball in for a strike and now it's even one and one and that one fouled off little Tardy on that fast B is's going to have to get it going a little quicker get that front foot down kicks and fires and another [Applause] ball swing and a miss strucked him out that ends the inning and stop things from getting out of hand Rangers get one on the RBI double it's now one nothing back here with my pal singi and towing the slab in this one Nathan evaldi he's had his ups and downs in his career as his ER is just over four but this is a guy that's not afraid he's going to take the ball he's going to go out there and give it his best and stepping in is the Speedy Gavin Lu the wi of the pitch and a foul ball evaldi multi-time Allstar he features the four seam fast ball a splitter a cutter a curve and he works in a slider and a foul [Applause] ball there's a ball this one in the air young settles under it puts it away for the out and there's one down time now for Dave Roberts lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers this is a ball club that can really slug lots of homers lots of extra base hits and Chris that of course a huge part of success in the standings for this group well if you're going to be successful in today's game you've got to be able to hit the ball over the fence just defensively very hard to find the holes and when you're talking about pitchers you coming out of the bullpen throwing 95 and above very difficult it's hard to string together two three four hits to score Those runs so definitely critical to hit those homers get the extra base knocks and that's exactly what they've been doing one down base is empty and a foul ball the O2 swing in a miss and he's down on strikes two gone just overmatched on that fastball right there and it wasn't like he was set up for it by something off speed earlier in the advat just came right after him with three straight and he had no answer for tasar Hernandez in now takes ball one off the Play Now power is such a big part of the success that we see with the good teams in the league right now and even in the postseason that one finds the Zone strike one two out space is [Applause] empty next offering is in for a [Applause] [Applause] strike two down nobody on headed down the line Carter sizes this one up reaches over the wall and he's got [Applause] in back here at Chavez Ravine here's Nathaniel Lowel low a former Glove winner batting sixth in today's lineup and he's been quite a threat lately with six homers in his last 10 games on the ground to the left sneaks through base head man AB board on the leadoff single Wast no time there not much to this one other than just a willingness to go the other way and put the ball and play that's a team at bat right there nice job of staying back and letting the ball get deep here's Josh [Applause] Young slap the other way [Applause] foul low gets his lead at first nobody out oh that's off the Inside Edge and it's one and one Rusty Valentine doing the umpiring behind the dish for us maybe the best name in the league yeah that's a solid one no doubt I mean who's better to ask than you I kind of Wonder Rusty is his actual name or just a nickname yeah no clue and a pop off right side foul territory flashes the leather on the run a catch and there's one away anyways Rusty's got a good Zone very good on the corners of the plate but he'll give pitchers a little bit above the letters and below the knees if they're earning it next it'll be the Texas DH Ezekiel Duran not getting the results he's wanted at the plate recently just one hit in his last five games that Clips a corner one next off bring is in for a strike hammers that one deep left field and forget it he send it out of here home run number 10 on the year and they tack on to their lead it's 3 nothing and that shot makes their grip on the lead lead even tighter oh I'm not really sure how he kept that fair when you're out in front on a breaking ball like that such a good chance that it's going to hook foul but not this time he kept the hands moving forward just long enough to sneak it inside that foul p in the air left field drops in for a hit couldn't run it down and that's a double oh a swing like that can help you come out of the struggle we saw the numbers coming into the ball game but all he's trying to do at this point is help his team [Applause] win back to the top of the lineup leot taras stepping in for the Rangers one for one let off the game with a single and first offering is fouled off two runs across in the inning here at the top of the second F back ourway and that's out of play man it's second that one off the mark now one and [Applause] two cut on and Miss struck him out two away down he came out of his mechanics there typically likes to shoot the ball the other way but that time little anxious now the left fielder Evan 0 for one he hit into a fielder's Choice his first [Applause] time that's in for a strike when you're struggling out there on the mound hitters know that there'll be plenty of opportunities within the abbat to try to get something to hit hard two outs and one in scoring position [Music] and a pitch keeps theb back going with a foul [Music] ball swing and a miss struck came out good job at damage control right there Texas plates two on the Homer it's now 3 nothing you're watching Major League Baseball on the show back here at Dodger Stadium bottom of the second here's M bets sing you can't ask for anything more this guy checks all the boxes offensively he is the ultimate professional and it doesn't just start at game time it starts in the afternoon the way he prepares and gets ready for the ball game I tell you what his teammates feed off of the leadership that he shows on and off the field a three-oh lead is great but you can't get too comfortable got to stay aggressive keep attacking hitters try to cruise through this ball game he swings and hits a Fly ball set field Taris settles under this one puts it away for the out one away batting fit the designated hitter sh Otani now he made an immediate impact when he joined the league back in 2018 he sure did boo Otani singled in his first at bat won his first game on the mound and then hit his first home run the next day no adjustment period needed whatsoever ha wi in the pitch gets the outside corner with that one the Dodgers trailing by three bottom half of inning number two swing and a miss and he was fooled Big Time GM right there I hate it as a hitter but standing in center field you can't help but chuckle a little bit [Applause] gets a piece and stays alive the wind to kick the pitch swing and a pop up in foul gra he makes the catch and there's two down batting six the center fielder now James outman [Applause] outman inside corner that's a strike going one [Applause] swing and a miss and he got him to [Applause] [Applause] chase Off the Mark there and the count one and two two outs wouldn't chase that time [Applause] eighth pitch of the at back coming up right side Simeon and that is the inning nothing do it for the Dodgers here they Trail in this one three nothing new inning getting started and the batter will be the short stop Cory Seager all around I think if you asked anyone in this organization who's the best hitter in the lineup they would say him that's a laser base hit and the lead off man aboard wasting no time he's too for two now on the night and just a triple and home run away from the cycle seriously we're starting with this already now here is Adis Garcia 0 for one with a fly out to Center and that one a little below the knees and that's ball one well these Rangers doing a good job of putting the ball into play and that makes things more challenging on the defensive side and here's a stat for you boo they're making contact with more than 85% of the pitches that they're swinging at it's pretty special stuff not so good if you're out there on the [Applause] [Music] [Applause] mount and a one-1 swinging a foul straight back [Applause] one two battling here as he fouls it [Applause] away and that one cutting but missing down low still two and two after the foul [Music] [Applause] ball fouls it back with two strikes righty delivers spoils the two strike pitch and he'll see [Applause] another and the right-hander deals careful in the dirt and the runner stays where he [Applause] is and a pitch swing and a miss struck him out well that's a Blue Zone right there or the cold Zone on the hitting chart just doesn't have much success in that part of the strike zone and really good job of the pitcher executing try to go there as often as you can the numbers are in your favor now it's Marcus Simeon he's over one swing and a miss strike one Bo how good was Marcus Simeon in 2023 three named a finalist for the MVP award in the American League after producing a season with 100 RBIs and 826 Ops and 29 home runs on top of all that his Rangers won the World Series swinging a foul straight [Music] back Edy deals and now one and two it's a good take [Applause] cuts and misses it's a strike out all interesting he's looking very comfortable out of the stretch after giving up the lead off single backto back strikeout so they haven't been able to move that runner up get him into scoring position and try to have a better chance of scoring I tell you good job so far on the mound he just needs one more out low at the plate with two away swings through that one just not able to catch up up to that velocity and he's down 02 as he swings through [Applause] it and that's downstairs and outside O2 fast ball way out of the Zone I think he's trying to speed him up got to stay back off speed's probably [Applause] coming and the righty deals not close with that one two B two strikes he's been trying to tease the Zone with that slider but these hitters have showed patience not going outside the strike zone at the belt and fires great RBI spot here just got to stay focused on the pitch the runner will be in motion so something in the Gap should definitely score [Applause] it fouled off again 10 and it remains three and two Seager off of first with two away swaging a miss the velocity blasted it right past him one left for Texas but they lead at three nothing and welcome back to the ballpark as we go to the last of the third and up to the plate is Will Smith IAL back to work and that's in there at the [Applause] knees next pitch not close up high [Applause] right-hander kick steals that's in there and that is strike two swings and misses on the fast ball up in the zone for the strikeout really love the pitch sequence right there I'm telling you what pitcher and catcher on the same page right now Max M at the dish m and the first offering is not [Music] close one down base is empty that one ripped right center field and that should be extra bases around first heading for two Muny into second and it's a double seems like he got exactly what he was looking for right there a welld deserved double on a great swing got everything going on time he stayed balanced and he squared it up about as well as you could possibly [Applause] ask Freddy Freeman up to the dish fouled off he was [Applause] late you w in there at the knees [Applause] here comes a pitch misses now one of two really good take especially with two [Applause] strikes and a swing it a miss and there is another strike out oh it can be so tough as a hitter to pull yourself out of an extended slump one that last for several games even a week or more no right now he's really in one so I'm sure his mind is all over the place racing having a hard time sleeping trying to figure out what can get him back on track back to feeling more comfortable and settled in in the box and here is Gavin Lux hit hard but foul off to the left runner at second two down here in the last half of the Third [Applause] strike two from a pitcher perspective that's a beautiful splitter right there as a hitter you don't like it but he's commanded his fast ball and out of that same tunnel that splitter comes and the bottom just falls out of it man on second two down wouldn't chase that time [Music] [Applause] and another ball runner at second two [Music] down and a foul ball he stays [Applause] alive man at second foul ball another two two upcoming the healthy cut tough pitch at 98 but a really good pass at the ball and here it comes spoils that one and it remains two and [Applause] two slider misses outside Jason Hayward waiting to bat for the Dodgers ninth pitch of the atat do next got him looking that's a strike out one left for La still down three nothing and we're back and now Josh Young third number six young and a pitch here's a fun fact Dodgers Stadium was also the home of the Los Angeles Angels for four years in the 1960s while they waited for Anaheim Stadium to be built when the Angels were playing games at home instead of Dodger Stadium they called it Chavez Ravine Stadium next offering in there for a strike that's strike two he's been able to go go inside as well as outside effectively working both sides of the plate in this atat swing and a base [Applause] hit solo Runner aboard to start the inning and man I'll tell you a line drive like that into the Gap just feels so good it's feedback that you had everything on time and in control from start to finish with your swing yeah and now it's going to be ripped to First caught applies the tag and they get two double play now the catcher for the Rangers Jonah Heim doubled his first time up this is a guy who is very highly regarded defensively fun to watch him control stuff behind the plate Good Game caller good at framing but it's that this one's Fair down the line in left and it's going to be extra bases around first and hustling for second in safely it's a double and his second hit didn't take long to get a result for that at bat when you connect and it jumps off your bat like that you're thinking double at the very least put a great swing on it and man he wasn't fooled at [Applause] all so the Rangers batting order turns over and now here's a speed threat outfielder leot Tara one for two rips that one to right Hayward makes the grab and that'll end the inning so no runs on two base hits no errors and a runner left and Midway in the fourth it's the Rangers three and the Dodgers [Applause] nothing ready to go bottom four here's Jason Hayward the rightel Jason right her back to work pitch misses there one and0 one ball no strike this to Third and one gone to the fourth as they get the lead off man he's doing a nice job of keeping the ball out of the air lets the defense work behind him with another ground ball good execution here's teoscar Hernandez fly to left his first time just missed the Dodgers trailing by three we're here in the bottom of the fourth just missed the wi to kick the two just off the Inside [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Edge the pitch and there's the automatic one down base is empty swings through that one for strike two he can live up in the zone all game if hitters will chase it that's just too much velocity hitters got to look down in the zone the pitch foul ball and it remains a Full [Applause] Count now Fly ball to Right Center Garcia heads after it two down now bat Short Stop M two outs SP is empty now it's Mookie Betts Outfield playing very deep not wanting anything over their [Applause] heads that one's in there that's strike one he's a bad ball hitter so even if you get him to chase pitches outside the Zone he still might beat you not an easy out by any means good eye right there one one [Applause] swings and misses it one down below the Zone the Rangers leading by three here in game one of this three game set swing and a miss struck him out and good work there as he gets a one two three Dodgers go down quietly they Trail it here 3 nothing back here in La all set for the start of the inning here's the left fielder Evan Carter Carter the pitch Carter measures 6' 4 in just 21 years old and he was a second round pick in 2020 now one and [Applause] one and there's the [Applause] [Applause] strike the punch out there picks up strikeout number seven good late cut for the strikeout out there that thing really got in on him and you know the cutter isn't really a huge swinging Miss pitch most of the time because it's not really meant to move a whole lot you're just trying to miss the big part of the barrel and maybe get some weak contact but that one right there did a whole lot more than that that was a really good pitch Seager the next to hit takes outside well the good thing so far is that he hasn't issued any free passes unfortunately they're making pretty good contacts so not getting the swings and misses and making that defense BR behind [Applause] it one down base is empty [Applause] who and that one fouled [Applause] off now all even up got him looking two out Chris third time through the order and a couple of quick outs for the starter yeah he's been very frugal today economical with the pitch count now a chance for ad DOI Garcia that one's in there it's own and one [Applause] right through there for his [Applause] strike that one missed two down nobody on and we're in the top of the fifth and a swing in a miss and that's that one two three go the Rangers but they lead it 3 [Applause] nothing bottom of the inning here's Jo Otani he's not going to get cheated up there no he's not he's looking to do damage with every swing he takes upstairs you can never say enough about Otani in 2023 became the first player in Al NL history they hit 40 plus home runs and record more than 10 wins in a season next offering [Applause] upstairs up the middle throws to First in time what up one down up next the center field so digging in James outman rolled out to second in his first at [Applause] bat he's controlling things out there on the mound not messing around at all he's been in attack mode since the very start yeah that's outside two balls no strikes just missed a rare three ball count here he's been throwing strikes all day got to be ready to hit if you're in the Box the pitch and he walked him on four pitches that just came apart right there four pitch walk and Guy the play was not going to help him out by swinging at something out of the Zone Will Smith steps to the plate for the Dodgers he was a strikeout victim his first time and that is in for a strike and it's 0 and one now there's a pitch we haven't seen in a while it's going to be tough on the hitters if he can mix that in whenever he wants here's a high Chopper over to low and they get the out on Smith now batting third Bas M here's Muny to hit doubled into his first a r here's someone that loves playing at home and who can blame him his numbers are historically better and he's already one for one out of the [Applause] shoot in for a strike one and one back door him with the breaking ball just got the corner there's nothing you can really do with that swing and a miss and that strike two he's clearly out there throwing pitchers pitches in this situation first base is open he walks him no big [Applause] deal swing and a miss at the splitter and it's a strike out we're back and they make a change to start the six the new pitcher Daniel Hudson not having a lot of success against right-handed hitters they've been hitting them around this next matchup might be tough for [Applause] him here's the second baseman Marcus Simeon Outfield playing very deep not wanting anything over their heads and he deals looked like it was a little bit up meanwhile activity in the bullpen Alex via the left-hander up and throwing kismat getting loose as well outside and that's ball two struggled a little bit in this one couple of strikeouts earlier but doing a much better job in this at bat to get ahead and find a good hitters count at two and0 broken back ground ball to Second Lux tosses to first they get him but it was pretty close well as a hitter it can be kind of tough you get a hard throwing reliever that comes in the ball game you don't know exactly what his pitches are doing and that clearly blew him off on the hands s off that bat tell you what the bat companies they're pretty happy when guys like this come in out of the bullpit Nathaniel low up to hit that immediately pumps in a strike to the left-handed hitter one straight F off [Applause] foul one down base is empty swings through that and it's a strike out two quick outs to open the top of the six here's the third Bas Josh Young Josh [Applause] Young strike on the inside corner oh and one [Music] [Applause] bounce to the left side and it stays Fair he [Applause] Square to the plate there's a good chance that bat stays in the zone a long time and that produces solid contact [Applause] consistently out to short Seager and Freeman is retired the batter number second baseman G so the batting order turns over now it's the second baseman Gavin Lux got a good eye there one out B is [Applause] empty two balls no strikes the count and there's a strike on the outside corner check swing in Play to the right side and they put the tag on him for the out now B the white Jason Hayward two outs SP is empty now it's the right fielder Jason Hayward first pitch doesn't find the [Applause] Zone wouldn't chase that time when you get ahead in the count there's no no doubt that the success rate goes up and that's what he's been doing it's made a big impact for him in recent games two down nobody [Applause] on outside low and now three and one here's an opportunity to do some damage and perhaps unlock this offense 3-1 count be ready to turn on a fast [Music] ball two outs he goes down looking welcome back we're in the seventh we have a new pitcher on the M Alex via pretty tight game so they're looking for Quality pitches out of them right here got to do his best to keep the score right where it [Music] is Jonah hind stepping in for the Rangers he's built his reputation as one of the top framers in the sport [Applause] and the pitch that's down and in a slider missed up the [Applause] middle sends it to First and they get the lead off hitter in the seventh theer number Le so the lineup flips over up next for the Rangers leot taras one for three got it started a little too early strike one Bas is empty one away here in the top half of inning number seven just missed one ball one strike and he chases a high fast ball there ball gets a piece there we'll do it again one down base is empty to third M Zips it across two up two down the left field number 32 Evan Carter next up for Texas Evan Carter over for three with two strikeouts and a ground [Applause] out and the pitch a little bit low ball one [Applause] two down dolman on that Clips a [Applause] corner to the right side throw on to Freeman Rangers go down in order nothing doing for the Rangers but they're on top by a count of three to nothing back here at Chavez Ravine now here is teoscar Hernandez the Dodgers in Striking Distance but have some work to do Bo starts with the leadoff man need a good and bad out of him right here first pitch and he just misses some activity in the bullpen for Texas Josh Sports up and throwing Robertson also throwing on the corner for a strike and it's one and one in this situation you expect the Batters to be a little more patient possibly take until they get a strike with that you don't want to miss your opportunity to get ahead early in the count he didn't right there that one ripped and it drops in good job to keep it in front not about only two hits allowed so far tonight D so I don't think that one will disrupt his momentum all that much you know he's really been on top of his game commanding his pitches all night long here's Wookie bets now hitting better against right-handers this year so some reverse splits there Crush left center field this one's deep for get a gigantic blast and they throw a pair on the board it's 32 they needed that one singy indeed they did they've been fighting to get back into this game and just like that they're back in it [Applause] when you're working with this kind of velocity so critical that you move the ball around work quickly and make sure that you keep that hitter off balance clearly not pulled by the location or the velocity he was all over that fast Otani up to the dish first offering and it just misses could be tough to bounce back after big home run but but nobody on nobody out you just have to treat it as a fresh inning looking to get the tying run on base to count to a guy like this at the pl You' got to throw a pitcher pitch don't just try to get a strike he can make you pay two right through there for a strike hard ground ball B now and that puts the tying run on base well that was one of those high percentage Advantage counts batting averages are just so much higher pretty tough for the infielders to do anything with that one he pulled it hard into the Outfield and even when you keep it on the ground it feels great when you hit a missile like that and now let's see if they force some action with good Wheels on the bases here comes the skipper and we're going to see a pitching change in this spot that'll be it for Nathan naldi and he leaves in a one-run game new pitcher coming up we'll be back in a minute taking over on the mount for the Rangers Rock these are the spots relievers really make a name for themselves late and close there's not much margin for error but at the same time there's a reason they're put in these situations no outs runner at first and at the plate for the Dodgers James [Applause] outman first pitch misses with a single base runner because of all the power they are dangerous to tie this thing up or take the lead the pitch that's a strike and the count even at one this is one of those situations defensively where you can't try to do too much you got to make sure that you feel the ball cleanly and get one out first it's going to be tough to get two with this kind of speed in the batter box with the goahead run at the plate near the bottom of the seven outside low and the count two and one way to lay off that pitch down [Music] [Applause] swing in a Miss ugly swing right there but two strikes may see some movement over there at first base trying to stay out of the double play right [Music] here left hand hitter waights swing and he popped it up he's under it brings it in and there's one down such a confidence boost for a relever to come into the ball game and get the first hitter he faes just makes everything slow down a little bit and then from there can really settle in next up the Dodgers catcher Will [Applause] Smith in the dirt nice job behind the plate there [Applause] and the pitch that's in there and the count one and one if you're base runner you got to stay dialed in here look for anything in the dirt try your best to get in the scoring position sh on the go that one is absolutely beled way back there it's got a chance out of here they must be going crazy in the dugout second home run of the inning for him it's four and three well that swing changes things yes it does they were in Striking Distance they found a way to fight back big [Applause] time oh not every home run is a majestic blast off the bat and even though he hit it pretty well it was anything but a sure thing to get out but today the conditions were right we got just enough of it and I think the Back Spin really helped that thing carry and now it's Max Muny and now the Lefty foul ball there four runs already in the frame you're in game one of this three game [Applause] [Applause] set they tried to get him to chase on a slider down and Away good job to fight that one off the line of the pitch got him that's out number two oh big Power guy right there and generating so much bat speed it's hard to bring that to a Hal once you committed and try to check the swing just and up next for Los Angeles Freddy Freeman his homeing away splits there [Applause] in there and it's own and [Applause] [Music] one L and that's a base hit and that turns the lineup over now back second Bas gav back to the top of the Dodgers order now it's the Dodger lead off hitter Gavin [Applause] LS fast ball for a strike ball one strike two outs and it's foul away [Applause] [Music] kicks and fires Freeman off of first with two away hson misses it's a strike out but two round Trippers in this inning the long ball was working it's now a 43 ball game you're dialed into the go welcome back in a new arm of the mound to start the eighth Brar Groll well the best relievers love the opportunity to come in and protect the tight lead late in the ball game some of them are just wired different so we'll see what he's got here well one run game and here's Cory Seager to hit a lot of times you're looking for a guy to get that tie and run on base because of the power you want him to tie up the game with one swing here and that one hit 97 on the gun late in The game everyone gets a little tighter way to get ahead on a really good hitter right there chopped in the ground puny whips it across and Seer set down that's a huge defensive play in the late stages of the game it might not be the most challenging we've seen today but it needed to be made that's helping your team adolis Garcia stepping in for the Rangers and that one hit 97 on the gun activity in the bullpen Evan Phillips looks to be getting ready for manager Dave Roberts fire ising getting cranked up as well trying to hold a one-run lead and we're in the top of the eigh and he hits a ground ball right side boots it but he wins the foot race to First good job of knowing how much time he had there that's why you hug the lines on the corners late in a ball game like this positioned perfectly Marcus Simeon will hit next and they've got the no doubles defense set up outfielders playing deep and fielders guarding the lines and that's outside and it's w and0 [Applause] in there for a strike at the top of the [Applause] [Music] Zone the one- one is fouled off [Applause] two down Doan got it by him for the K and the Rangers set down in order score holds at 43 back now new pitcher on the m as we roll into the bottom of the eight Kirby y just trying to keep this one close here and this is where a bullpen can give their players a chance to fight back into the game Jason hay steps to the plate for the Dodgers the right Yates in his 10th season 37 years young he joined the team as a free agent here comes a pitch swing and a hard hit liner up the middle to base hit now no waiting around right there he was ready to swing it on the first pitch that's about as textbook as it gets got his stride and load out of the way early stayed inside that ball and squared it up out front man that was like he was in the cage Hitting off a te so man aboard teoscar Hernandez steps to the plate for the Dodgers in the air left side on the move Carter makes the [Applause] catch now batting Short Stop mooki V here's mooki now got to be careful with a slugger like this because he can turn it into a three-run game in the blink of an eye [Applause] swinging a foul over the screen and back out of [Applause] play turns and fires the BS that's outside and that's ball one Bullpen action for the Rangers Cody Bradford the left-handed reliever appears to be getting loose one run game one out one on next offering is down low right-handed reliever and a big swing and a miss he got away with one there but he knows he can't go into that spot very often against a guy like this righty delivers got him swinging and there's two down just beautiful placement of the splitter right there exactly where you want it with two strikes to get that swing at Miss and he's worked very hard to be able to command that pitch it's a tough pitch to get a grip on but he's one of the best at throwing it where he wants to and next is the designated hitter sh Otani [Applause] and the first pitch misses for ball [Applause] one two outs out towards Right Center that's well struck way back there and out of here a massive home run his 18th home run of the season and they add to their lead it's 63 Chris he's homered in backto back games now yep seeing the ball well and he's got his timing locked in he's looking pretty dangerous at the dish right now I'm sure he wanted that pitch down below the Zone it stayed up a little bit he paid a dear price for it just a great swing to the ball through the ball and a nice round Triple Two outs nobody on next to hit James outman and first offering is fouled off [Applause] left hand batter Waits swing in a miss and the count is 0 and two foul ball left side he'll see another gets a piece and it stays 0 and [Applause] two at the Belton fires off the plate inside and a count one and [Applause] two High Fly ball down the left field line that one back there and it hits the fence safely into second he's got a double love how he let that ball travel trusted his hands nice job of going the other [Music] way so out of the bullpen for the Rangers Cody Bradford and this could be a pretty critical point in this game they're hoping he's the guy to keep them within Striking Distance Will Smith steps to the plate for the Dodgers he's already homered here in this one first pitch just misses [Music] [Applause] and he deals so two balls and no strikes two runs across in the inning here the bottom half of the eighth inning ground ball left side and foul [Applause] ball man on second two down and there's a [Applause] ball so now two on and two [Applause] outs the third baseman number 13 Here Comes Max Muny he is very much your typical power hitter I'd say he falls into the three true outcomes category well we've seen more and more of that lately the ability to drive the ball to slog is getting heavily favored over any discipline or strikeout [Music] concerns two on two outs not the easiest thing when you're talking about a guy that's you know perhaps was going to be in the rotation maybe a long relief guy to not start an inning to come in do it any with pressure on it and and try to get yourself comfortable and a breaking ball drops in for a [Applause] strike foul ball still a one and two count first and second two down [Applause] [Applause] the pitch stays [Applause] alive and the pitch bouns it off still one and two [Applause] keeps the it back going with a foul ball five foul balls in a row I have no idea what that feels like but you got to love this battle just wondering who's going to Blink first to two in the dirt blocked nothing happened happen on the bases [Applause] though the pitch swings and misses that ends the inning and they limit the damage but two come across to score in the inning courtesy of this two-run Homer Last Chance coming up here for the Rangers welcome back and here comes the closer Evan Phillips well he's the guy they hope to turn to out of the PIN to lock down win so this game has gone to plan more or less let's see if he can wrap it up here and here it comes low stands in here takes ball one low [Applause] and there's a strike of the outside corner and it's one and [Applause] one and another ball righty to the plate swing and a popup in position he makes the grab and there's one down the third Bas number six Josh Young stepping in for the Rangers and first off ring is fouled off [Music] [Applause] one down base is empty swings through it and that's a strikeout that corter right there had just enough movement on it to get the swing and Miss wasn't a great location by any means that's typically a spot that hitters can handle so I'd say he fooled him with just enough of that late [Applause] action Durant in the box with two gone and takes a look at a called [Applause] strike and that skips into dirt [Music] swings through that one out in front that time the Rangers down to their final strike sharp grounder that's through for a base hit that's tremendous fight from him and I know it's got the Dugout fired up down there down to the last strike and he comes up with a hit to keep the game alive it ain't over yet and the batter now Jonah Heim and first off ring is fouled off the Dodgers trying to close out a three-run lead here in the top of the nin and now it's even up I love this part of the game does he really want to try and steal second against this catcher I know he's fast but it's pretty risky down the line and that will drop foul and the righty deals fights that one away still one and two two outs now a pop up on the infield Lux gets under it he'll squeeze it for the final out and the Dodgers take the series opener here at home well they win the opener at home first game of the three- game series and there's just such a good feeling when you're in your own ballpark you're sleeping in your own bed you're eating your Clubhouse manager's food everything's right in your world and they played like it today 63 our final score for Chris Singleton and our entire crew I'm John shy saying so long is here now is our final line score tonight first for the Victorious Dodgers six runs nine hits no errors they left five Runners on paas for the Rangers three runs on Ted hits no errors they left six Runners on Bay time of the Ball Game 3 hours and 12 minutes tonight's paid attendance a sellout 56,000 the Dodgers thank you for attending tonight's game and as you leave Dodger Stadium we were app you to please drive home safely yes