Chirinos Walk-Off Homer Caps Rangers 3-2 Win Over Dodgers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Robinson Chirinos hit a game-ending home run leading off the bottom of the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Chirinos hit a 1-1 pitch from Josh Ravin (2-1) over the left-center field wall, his sixth homer of the season.
The Dodgers had gotten even in the top of the ninth when Justin Turner hit a two-run homer off rookie starter Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was so close to his second complete game and first shutout in only his fourth career start.
Shawn Tolleson (2-1), who had been proclaimed the Texas closer earlier in the day by manager Jeff Banister, gave up a pair of two-out singles after taking over before Jimmy Rollins' inning-ending flyout.
Texas won both home games against the Dodgers, though the teams play again Wednesday and Thursday in Los Angeles.
Ravin took over in the ninth after lefty Brett Anderson scattered eight hits and allowed two runs over eight innings. He struck out four and walked three while throwing 114 pitches.
Gonzalez, the 23-year-old right-hander, gave up a one-out walk in the ninth to Howie Kendrick before a visit to the mound by pitching coach Mike Maddux. But Turner homered on the next pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
Gonzalez has allowed only three runs over 30 innings, giving him a 0.90 ERA so far in his big-league career. He struck out two and walked two while allowing five hits.
Prince Fielder scored a run, on a play after stumbling around third base and face-planting into the ground, and later drove in a run one with an infield single for the Rangers.
The Rangers have won nine of their last 11 home games, and are 27-14 overall since May 4 -- the best record and most wins in the majors during that span.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Scott Van Slyke is ready to come off the DL after missing 18 games because of back inflammation. . "He's done his rehab now," manager Don Mattingly said. "As long as he doesn't trip and break an ankle between now and (Wednesday), I think he'll be activated." ... LHP Paco Rodriguez and RHP Pedro Baez and Brandon League each pitched a scoreless inning for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday night. League, the only of that trio who has been out all season, was set to pitch again Tuesday night.
Rangers: LF Josh Hamilton (strained left hamstring) said he won't be traveling for upcoming games in Los Angeles and Chicago. ... OF Delino DeShields (strained left hamstring) believes he might have been "a little dehydrated" when he got hurt lunging for a ball Sunday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Three-time NL Cy Young winner and Dallas native Clayton Kershaw (5-3) pitches against his hometown team after watching the two games in Texas the ballpark where he grew up regularly going to games.
Rangers: For the first time since 2001, the Rangers play a game at Dodger Stadium, ending their longest gap between visits to a current stadium. They last went to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh in 2007.
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