Dodgers beat Rays behind Miguel Rojas’ pinch-hit blast, improved bullpen

Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a late lead Monday night.

And this time, their bullpen didn’t squander it.

In a 4-3 win over the Rays at Dodger Stadium, the team overcame an early three-run deficit on a Kyle Tucker home run, took their first lead of the night on Rojas’ go-ahead, pinch-hit blast to left field in the seventh, then hung behind three scoreless innings from their previously scuffling bullpen, bouncing back from their first series loss in a month this past weekend with a narrow victory to open this six-game homestand.

Rojas’ home run was the difference, with the veteran utilityman taking Rays left-hander Steven Matz deep with a swing that was –– aesthetically, at least –– reminiscent of his heroic Game 7 homer in last year’s World Series.

But the bullpen offered the most encouraging signs.

Entering Monday, the unit had a 7.51 ERA this month, good for the worst mark in the majors in June.

But after a six-inning, three-run start from Eric Lauer that was aided heavily by the Dodgers’ defense, the club got scoreless frames from Kyle Hurt in the seventh (who worked around a two-out single), Will Klein and Alex Vesia (who stranded a runner at third in the eighth) and Tanner Scott (who picked up his eighth save in the ninth).

What it means

After dropping two of three to the White Sox to end their recent road trip, the Dodgers (46-27) got back in the win column Monday to improve to 8-6 in June and 22-9 since May 13.

They also got a leg up in this series over the Rays (41-28), who have cooled since a red-hot May and slipped to second in the American League East.

In the National League West, the Dodgers are back to eight games up on the San Diego Padres.

Who’s hot

Clearly, Dodgers fans are still lukewarm on Tucker –– evidenced by him getting half the All-Star votes of Andy Pages, and 100,000 less than the currently injured Teoscar Hernández.

On Monday, however, he finally showed more of the all-around skill set that prompted the Dodgers to give him a $240 million contract.

First, erased the team’s early 3-0 deficit by hitting a three-run blast in the bottom of the second, giving him just his second home run at Dodger Stadium this year

Then, in the third, he prevented the Dodgers from falling behind again, cutting down a runner at home plate with a perfect throw from right field to preserve the 3-3 tie and end the inning.

Overall, Tucker went 2-for-4 –– albeit, with a key strikeout in the sixth with a couple runners on base, and a flyout in the eighth with a runner on second –– and is now hitting .239 on the season with a .725 OPS.

Who’s not

The Rays’ batted ball luck.

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Though the Tampa Bay lineup struck out just seven times on Monday, their ability to put the ball in play was negated by strong Dodgers’ defense.

Tucker’s outfield assist was the biggest moment. But there was also a key double-play at the end of Lauer’s start in the sixth (helping him complete a quality start that gives him a 3.22 ERA in four starts with the Dodgers) and several nifty moments from Max Muncy at third and Mookie Betts at shortstop, including a grounder Betts fielded to lead off the ninth that sent him ranging far to his right as he made the play.

Up next

The Dodgers and Rays continue this series on Tuesday night, when Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.95 ERA) will pitch on four days’ rest against Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen (6-2, 2.71 ERA).