Pinch-Hitter Jason Heyward Delivers 3-Run Homer in 8th as Dodgers Rally to Beat Mariners

By Associated Press

Published 3 months ago on

August 21, 2024

Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward broke an eighth-inning tie with a three-run homer as the Dodgers rallied for a 6-3 victory over the reeling Mariners on Tuesday night. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

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LOS ANGELES — Pinch-hitter Jason Heyward broke an eighth-inning tie with a three-run homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 6-3 victory over the reeling Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

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Heyward’s Clutch Homer Seals Dodgers’ Comeback

Heyward lined a high 99 mph fastball from All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz (2-5) over the short wall in the right-field corner to give the Dodgers their first lead. It was his second pinch-hit homer this season and the third of his career.

“It’s hard to get runners on base against a closer and hard to make things happen like that late in the game. It’s nice to be part of the reward for our group,” Heyward said. “Nice swing at the first pitch — he wanted to get ahead. Nice couple takes and nice job of being ready for another one somewhere near the zone to put a good swing on it.”

Will Smith got aboard with one out when he was hit by a pitch, and Max Muncy walked. Tommy Edman then struck out looking to set the stage for Heyward.

“He was ready when called upon and came away with a huge hit. That for me was one of the highlights of the season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Heyward’s home run.

Dodgers’ Power Surge Continues

Muncy and Gavin Lux both homered for the second consecutive game. The NL West-leading Dodgers, who have the best record in the majors at 75-52, have won three straight and four of five.

Joe Kelly (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win, and Daniel Hudson retired the side in the ninth for his 10th save.

Jorge Polanco had two hits and drove in three runs, but the Mariners have dropped the first two games of the series and seven of eight on their current road trip.

“Came down to be a bullpen game and theirs was better than ours,” manager Scott Servais said. “The opportunities were there. We didn’t quite get enough.”

Late-Inning Drama Unfolds

Mookie Betts tied it at 3 with two outs in the seventh on an RBI double down the left-field line off Muñoz, who entered with a 1.35 ERA. Betts tried to give the Dodgers the lead on Teoscar Hernández’s single, but was thrown out at home by right fielder Mitch Haniger as he tried to score from second.

Bryce Miller’s scoreless streak ended at 16 innings when Lux led off the fourth with a homer that narrowly eluded the glove of Mariners center fielder Victor Robles.

Seven of Lux’s 10 homers have come since the All-Star break.

Later in the inning, Muncy connected on a high fastball and drove it into the Mariners’ bullpen in right field to get the Dodgers within a run.

The third baseman has homered in both his games since he came off the injured list Monday. Muncy had been out since May 17 with an oblique strain.

Polanco Powers Mariners’ Early Lead

Both of Polanco’s hits off Walker Buehler came on 1-2 counts. With the bases loaded and two outs in the first, Polanco lined a sinker into right field for a two-run single.

Polanco extended the lead to 3-0 in the third with an RBI double to left-center.

Buehler — who gave up three runs and seven hits in four innings — has allowed seven runs (six earned) in 7 1/3 innings in two starts since coming off the injured list. The two-time All-Star was sidelined nearly two months because of right hip inflammation.

The 30-year-old right-hander is 1-4 with a 6.09 ERA in 10 starts this season.

“Made a couple bad pitches. Polanco got me a couple times. I’m so tired of saying that I feel closer, but I think this is as close as I’ve felt to me of old as I have this year,” Buehler said. “I didn’t throw the ball well and our team got us back in the game.”

Trainer’s Room

Mariners: Haniger returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a quad injury.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (triceps tightness) will throw a two-inning simulated game on Wednesday. … RHP Blake Treinen (right hip discomfort) could be activated Wednesday, depending on available depth in the bullpen.