Dodger fans in attendance for Independence Day got a fireworks show after the game, but it was the fireworks show on the field that had everyone celebrating.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from not one, but two, three-run deficits to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-5, for their 10th win in a row at Dodger Stadium.
Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal provided most of the fireworks show on the field when they hit back-to-back home runs, the first time the Dodgers have accomplished that feat all season.
"Everytime they scored, we responded back and answered," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of the come-from-behind victory. "As an offense, we hit the ball out of the ballpark and the bullpen did a really nice job again. It was a team win."
19-year-old pitching prodigy Julio Urias, struggled in his eighth start of the season as he was tagged for three runs in the second inning.
J.J. Hardy capped off the big inning with a two-run double over the head of Puig in right field to give the O's the early advantage.
Puig and Grandal got two of the runs right back in the bottom half of the second when they hit back-to-back homers off Yovani Gallardo. The two blasts marked the first time in the 2016 season that the Dodgers have gone back-to-back.
"I don't know why I have so many home runs here," Grandal said after he hit his third homer in the last four games. "I've been telling everyone once the offense starts going we're going to be scary."
After a scoreless third, Urias once again struggled in the fourth inning as Hardy doubled off the Mexican youngster once again. Joey Rickard followed with an RBI single and once again Baltimore had built a three-run lead.
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"I struggled some, but fortunately the team was able to come back," Urias said of the game overall. "If this was my last start, I'm happy to go work and come back."
Urias was removed from the game, allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts in just three and 1/3 innings, his second shortest start of the season.
"The strike zone was a little tight," Urias said of why he struggled. "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do my job tonight, but I will learn from it."
The teenager's struggles likely means he will be sent back down to Triple-A after this start as Hyun-Jin Ryu is set to return from the disabled list and start against the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
"We'll probably send him out to Oklahoma City, but we don't know the corresponding move yet," Roberts said of sending Urias down to Triple-A. "Well be making a couple moves in the next few days."
LA clawed their way back into the game with two runs in the bottom half of the fourth as RBI singles by Chase Utley and Corey Seager brought the Dodgers within a run.
The two-out RBI single for Seager extended his MLB-leading active hit-streak to 17 games, the longest in the National League this season and third longest by a rookie in franchise history.
"It's one of those things that you try not to think about," Seager said of the record-setting streak. "I've been getting some good pitches and getting lucky."
Seager has been unstoppable during his record streak, batting .414 with eight doubles, two triples, two homers and five RBI.
"I'm not very vocal, I just try and go out there and play the game the right way," Seager said when asked if he was the leader of the team. "I try and lead that way more than speaking."
Utley and Seager helped complete the comeback as the double-play duo did it with the bats down the stretch.
Utley hit another RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and Seager scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff triple down the right field line put him in scoring position.
"At that point in the game you have to be on third," Seager said of the triple. "You have to be on third to give yourself two chances to score. Sac fly, ground-ball, something."
Howie Kendrick added an insurance run with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth off Odrisamer Despaigne who received his first loss of the season.
"Howie didn't start tonight, but when he's not in there, he's ready when called upon," Roberts added. "We got him two at-bats tonight, and that second at-bat was huge. That shows you the depth of our roster."
Jayson Aquino made his Major League debut for Baltimore coming out of the bullpen in the eighth inning, but that was the only bright spot for the Orioles who have now lost five games in a row.
Kenley Jansen worked a perfect ninth inning for his 25th save of the season as LA moved a season-high 11 games over .500 on the season.
Players of the Game:
Chase Utley: 3-for-5 with two RBI
Corey Seager: 2-for-5 with a triple, RBI and run scored.
Yasiel Puig: 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored.
Yasmani Grandal: Solo home run.
Three Takeaways:
1. Dodgers History: Corey Seager took over sole possession of third place for the longest hitting streaks by a rookie in Los Angeles Dodgers franchise history with his RBI single in the fourth inning. Tommy Davis holds the record with 20, Bill Sudakis is in second with 18 and now Seager in third with 17.
Corey Seager has a 17-game hitting streak with that RBI single. Only longer LA Dodgers rookie streaks: T.Davis (20, 1960), Sudakis (18, '69) — Eric Stephen (@truebluela) July 5, 2016
2. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard: Los Angeles Dodgers teenage sensation, Julio Urias struggled in what may have been his last start in the Majors for 2016. Urias fell victim to a conservative strike zone by home plate umpire Mark Carlson all night and was forced to make many hittable pitches. Overall, Urias left a lasting impression with Dodger fans in his eight starts this season and the future looks bright for this young left-hander.
Roberts wouldn't commit. But likelihood this is Urias' last start w/ #Dodgers high. All-Star break coming, veterans retuning, Norris added — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 4, 2016
3. Drake Song: Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second inning as the Dodgers went deep twice in a row for the first time this season. According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Dodgers were the only team in baseball not to hit back-to-back homers all season before Monday.
Dodgers get back-to-back HR by Yasmani Grandal and Yasiel Puig
They were only team in MLB that had not hit back-to-back HR this season — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 5, 2016
Up Next:
Orioles (47-35): Chris Tillman gets the call for the O's on Tuesday in game two of the three-game series.
Dodgers (48-37): Kenta Maeda takes the mound for LA on normal rest as first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM PST.
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