Now that's a Texas two-step!
Enrique Hernandez do-si-doed around Carlos Perez in the bottom the 11th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers walked off against the Texas Rangers, 3-2, on Wednesday night at Dodger stadium.
Following a blowout victory against Bartolo Colon in the first game of the series, the Dodgers and Rangers nearly came to blows in game two.
Justin Turner jump-started the offense with a solo shot in the first inning.
Turner crushed an 84MPH changeup from Hamels over the wall in left-center for the team's 30th home run in the month of June.
"I just missed with one pitch," said Hamels of the homer to Turner. "It tends to be that changeup that I hang. It's really cost me the last two weeks by giving up a home run with it."
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The Dodgers 30 home runs in the month of June is the most in an 11-game span in franchise history.
Yasiel Puig attempted to steal third base in the bottom of the second inning and the throw by Rangers' catcher Robinson Chirinos went through the legs of Adrian Beltre and into left field, allowing Puig to score.
The brawl that would have everyone talking broke out in the bottom of the third inning.
Kemp was attempting to score from second base on a single to right field by Enrique Hernandez when he barreled into Chirinos at the plate.
"I thought it was a clean play," said Kemp after the fact. "He was blocking the plate. I ran him over. It's pretty much that simple. I was out."
Kemp was ruled out on the play, but Chirinos didn't take kindly to the collision and pushed Kemp as he got to his feet. Kemp pushed back, and both benches quickly cleared.
Both Kemp and Chirinos were ejected from the game for the altercation that ensued.
"It's really not that big a deal," said Kemp of the altercation. "Two guys shoving eachother and then it's over. I'm just happy we won the game."
The brawl must have sparked the Rangers as they tied the game in the top half of the fourth inning.
Adrian Beltre kicked off the comeback with a one-out double to right-center for his 3,090th hit of his career, surpassing Ichiro Suzuki for the most hits by an international player in MLB history.
Jurickson Profar and Joey Gallo each followed with RBI singles and the Rangers and Dodgers were deadlocked at 2-2.
Beltre finished the game 3-for-4, and has hit well against his former team, batting .386 with nine runs, four doubles, two homers and eight RBI in 11 career games against the Boys in Blue.
In his first career start against the Texas Rangers, the Japanese right-hander did not factor in the decision, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and one strikeout in five innings.
"Kenta will make his next start when we decide and he will be ready to go," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts after the game.
Prior to the game, the Dodgers reinstated Maeda from the 10-day disabled list after he missed the last 14 days with a right hip strain.
Hamels matched Maeda, also allowing two runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
"It's a tough one to lose," said Hamels following the loss. "I know the guys coming in from the bullpen fought hard, and it was just a tough way to lose."
Hamels is a trade candidate for many competing teams, including the Dodgers who are in need of starting pitching.
In four starts at Dodger Stadium, Hamels has gone 1-1 with an ERA of 1.61, something the Dodgers front office could look at when it comes to making moves before the July 31 deadline.
"I really enjoy pitching here," said Hamels after the game. "I have pretty good results and just the atmosphere and what the field kind of has it's a great spot. It's got great energy."
Each team took turns matching six scoreless frames until the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 11th.
Austin Barnes hit a groundball back to relief pitcher Matt Bush, but his throw home pulled Perez off the bag and Herrnandez danced around him for the game-winning run and the Dodgers first walk-off win of the season.
"I went back to my Latino roots and showed off my salsa moves," said Hernandez of the game-winning run. "Knowing that you're the winning run, you're going to do anything possible to score."
The Dodgers are now 9-2 in the month of June, and improve to 18-18 at home on the season.
The two-game sweep of Texas was their first against the Rangers since sweeping three-in-a-row from June 30-July 2, 1998.
Up Next:
The Dodgers will have an off day on Thursday before facing the rival San Francisco Giants for a three-game weekend series on Friday. LHP Derek Holland will start against RHP Ross Stripling.
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