Freddie Freeman hit a crucial RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 comeback win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.
Mookie Betts singled and advanced to second on an errant throw by pitcher Will Smith, then scored on Freeman’s hit. Daniel Hudson earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Alex Vesia secured his third save by pitching a clean ninth inning.
In the ninth, the Royals threatened with a runner on first and two outs, but pinch hitter Nelson Velazquez’s single was followed by a flyout by Nick Loftin to end the game.
The Dodgers tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning with contributions from the lower part of their lineup. Miguel Rojas hit a two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole, and Chris Taylor followed with his first home run since September 7th.
Reflecting on his performance, Taylor expressed relief and acknowledged moments of frustration during his .100 batting average. Miguel Rojas, who has been pivotal with a hit in every game they’ve won, emphasized his approach of treating every game like a playoff.
Making their first appearance at Dodger Stadium since 2017, the Royals settled in comfortably. Salvador Perez launched a 437-foot home run with an exit velocity of 113.3 mph, nearly reaching the left-field pavilion in the fourth inning.
Despite an impressive defensive play by Bobby Witt Jr. on his 24th birthday, where he made a catch and initiated a double play with Nick Loftin, the Royals fell short in the late innings.
