LOS ANGELES, CA — After blowing a lead and eventually the game in the tenth inning to the Rays last night, the Dodgers look to their new ace, Gavin Stone, to finish this three-game series with a win and say goodbye to the pesky Rays.
Today was Kobe Bryant Day at Dodger Stadium, and the first 40,000 in attendance received a number 24 Bryant jersey. Kobe also wore the number 8, which was displayed on the front.
Front of Kobe Bryant jersey that the Dodgers gave away on Sunday afternoon vs. the Rays – Image Credit: William Coppola/Latino Sports
So it was no surprise to the sell-out crowd of 54,464 when in the top of the fifth inning and no one out, fan-favorite number 8, Enrique Hernández, San Juan, Puerto Rico, made a spectacular running back-handed catch in deep left-center field to rob Rays catcher, Ben Rortvedt, of a sure double or more with a runner on first that would have easily scored in a 0-0 pitchers duel between the Rays’ lefty Jacob Lopez, and Gavin Stone. At that point, both pitchers had only given up one hit apiece. Could Kobe be looking down LA with his wife and small children in the ballpark?
In the bottom of the fifth inning, #8 did it again when Hernández #8 led off the inning by parking an 88 mph cutter 395 feet into the left-centerfield pavilion to give the Dodgers a one-run lead.
No. 8 homering on Kobe Bryant Jersey Day. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/O5mDmMTVDf
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 25, 2024
The Rays tied it up when former Dodger Jonny DeLuca hit a 390-foot 93 sinker by Stone that didn’t sink in the same spot Hernández hit his, tying the game at 1-1.
DeLuca what you made him do 😎 pic.twitter.com/ABGcHWN925
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 25, 2024
Stone left the game with a line of seven innings; one earned run, three hits, seven strikeouts, and one home run. He threw 80 pitches, fifty-three for strikes. Lopez went five innings, giving up one run on five hits and one home run.
Mookie Betts would hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel the Dodgers to the win as they sit at 78-53, tops in all of MLB.
Kobe chants for the W. 🐍 pic.twitter.com/YU5p7dmdhq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 25, 2024
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