LOS ANGELES – Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Friday night.
Miguel Vargas walked before Zack Kelly got Chris Taylor to start looking. Brennan Bernardino (3-3) relieved and gave up a double to the left wing like Shohei Ohtani. Will Smith was brought in to load the bases, setting the stage for Freeman, who hit his 15th home run of the season.
“It was the opportunity to race, that’s all I cared about,” Freeman said. “You can walk with all the people you want. It’s part of the game. It’s strategy. Sinkerballer, throw a sinker and I can turn it into a double play. It’s the right attitude. Sometimes it doesn’t work.”
Dodger Stadium shook with chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” after Freeman’s seventh career grand slam – his second this season. Fans wanted a curtain call and Freeman waved from the top of the dugout steps.
The Dodgers, who had lost six of seven before the All-Star break, had as many hits in the eighth inning — two — as they had combined in the previous seven innings.
Ryan Yarbrough (4-2) earned the win after allowing a hit in a scoreless eighth and Daniel Hudson earned his fifth save after giving up a hit in the ninth.
All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran hit a solo home run off Gavin Stone in the fifth inning to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. It was his 11th home run.
Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta held the Dodgers scoreless on two hits in six innings. He faced just 21 batters, three over the minimum.
Ohtani struck out in the first, third and sixth innings before striking out in the eighth.
Gavin Stone, the Dodgers’ nine-win leader at halftime, gave up one run and six hits in five innings. It’s the eighth time this season he’s allowed just one earned run or less.
“It felt good. We finished the first half with a tough finish,” Stone said. “Starting well in the second half was really important.”
Vargas made a nice defensive play in the eighth inning, catching a ball hit to left field by Rafael Devers and then doubled to Tyler O’Neill at first base. It was a play that brought the silent crowd back into the game.
The Red Sox won three of their four games before the All-Star break.
FATHER’S DUTY
Freeman said he will hear about his grand slam on the car ride home from his son, Charlie.
“The first thing he’ll ask is if I need to do interviews,” Freeman said. “He knows that if I do well, I will have to give interviews. That’s the way of a 7-year-old.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: INF Tristan Casas (torn rib cartilage) did not travel with the team to Los Angeles. He has been out since April 21 and there is still no return date, but coach Alex Cora said he is “still a long way away” from going into rehabilitation. … INF Trevor Story (shoulder surgery) was with the Red Sox in Los Angeles and told reporters he is not ruling out a possible return.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (left shoulder surgery) has yet to pitch this season but made his second rehab start on Friday. Manager Dave Roberts said he could start his next game with the Dodgers. … RHP Joe Kelly (right back shoulder sprain) was activated after being out since May 5. RHP Tyler Glasnow (back tightness) threw a 3-inning simulated game and after another bullpen, expects to start against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. … INF/OF Mookie Betts (fractured left hand), will have another X-ray in a few days to make sure the bones are healing properly.
NEXT
Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.32 ERA) picked up a win in his last start before the All-Star break, allowing three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against Kansas City. He allowed two home runs but picked up his 10th win.
Dodgers: LHP Justin Wrobleski (0-1, 6:30 ERA) was promoted on June 22 and will make his third major league start. He gave up two home runs in five innings in the Dodgers’ extra-inning loss to Detroit last Saturday.
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