Dodgers hope for timely hits in final game of series against Red Sox

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been inconsistent on offense in the first half of the season, but they have learned lately how to score in key moments.

After winning twice, Los Angeles hopes to defeat the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series on Sunday night.

The Dodgers won Friday’s series opener 4-1 on Freddie Freeman’s eighth-inning grand slam. Los Angeles had two hits in the first seven innings.

On Saturday, the Dodgers needed an Enrique Hernandez homer to tie the score in the ninth inning and his tying single in the 10th.

Los Angeles posted a 7-6 victory on Saturday after Will Smith hit a bases-loaded RBI single in the 11th inning to end the game.

“We’ve had two really tough games, and I think those tougher games tell a lot about a team,” Hernandez said. “Hopefully, these are the types of games we need to play as a team and not look back.”

After a pair of rookies in Gavin Stone and Justin Wrobleski started the first two games of the series, the Dodgers will turn to veteran left-hander James Paxton (7-2, 4.38 ERA) on Sunday. Paxton, who made 19 starts for the Red Sox last season, is 6-1 with a 3.41 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston.

It’s been an injury-riddled season for Los Angeles’ rotation, but the 35-year-old Paxton has proven to be indispensable. Despite a 7.13 ERA in his last four starts, the Dodgers have gone on to win three of those games.

More pitching help is coming later in the week: Tyler Glasnow (back tightness) will be removed from the injured list on Wednesday and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will make his season debut on Thursday.

“If they need me now, I’m ready,” Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times.

The Red Sox blew late leads in both games of the current series, failing to continue their productive run from the end of the first half of the season, when they won 10 of their last 13 games.

Jarren Duran and Tyler O’Neill did their part. Duran hit a home run on Friday and a two-run double on Saturday. O’Neill hit two home runs on Saturday, including a go-ahead two-run home run in the 10th inning before the Dodgers rallied.

The problem wasn’t with the Red Sox starters. Nick Pivetta threw six scoreless innings on Friday, and Brayan Bello surrendered three runs and left with the lead after six innings on Saturday.

Next up for Boston is right-hander Kutter Crawford (6-7, 3.04), who has a 2.35 ERA in nine road games. Crawford is 3-0 with an 0.45 ERA in three starts in July, including consecutive scoreless outings in each of his last two trips to the mound.

“I don’t get caught up in the stats and stuff — we look at the numbers and I know he’s been solid in every aspect, throwing strikes and stuff like that,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I look up and the ERA is down, the WHIP is down. … Just posting every five days and giving us a chance to win.”

Crawford was a starter against the Dodgers last season, giving up two runs and four hits in five innings in a no-decision game.

–Field Level Media