Freddie Freeman came through with a clutch grand slam in the eighth inning to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The Dodgers struggled offensively for most of the game, managing just two hits through seven innings. However, they were able to load the bases in the eighth, setting the stage for Freeman’s heroics. After a walk, a double, and an intentional walk, Freeman stepped up and delivered a powerful blast into the Red Sox’s bullpen off left-hander Brennan Bernardino.
The win was a much-needed one for the Dodgers, who had been struggling in recent games, dropping six of their previous seven. Rookie right-hander Gavin Stone put in a solid performance on the mound, giving up just one run over five innings. Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough picked up the victory with a scoreless inning of relief, while right-hander Daniel Hudson notched his fifth save of the season.
For the Red Sox, Jarren Duran continued his hot streak with another home run, following up his All-Star Game MVP performance. Despite Duran’s homer and a strong outing from right-hander Nick Pivetta, who allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings, the Red Sox couldn’t capitalize on their scoring opportunities. They went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and fell short after winning 10 of their last 13 games leading into the All-Star break.
The defeat was a tough one for the Red Sox, especially as it came in their first visit to Los Angeles since clinching the 2018 World Series on the same field. Pivetta, despite his strong performance with eight strikeouts, has not picked up a win since June 17. The Red Sox had multiple chances to score early in the game but couldn’t come through with the big hit when needed.
Overall, Freeman’s grand slam was the difference-maker in a hard-fought game between two competitive teams. The Dodgers will look to build on this win and gain momentum, while the Red Sox will aim to bounce back and continue their winning ways in the upcoming games.