ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — With one big swing in the ninth inning, Justin Turner finally got the Los Angeles Dodgers on the scoreboard and chased Rangers starter Chi Chi Gonzalez out of the game.
But Turner’s two-run homer, which denied the Texas rookie a shutout and complete game, only got the Dodgers even.
Robinson Chirinos led off the bottom of the inning with game-ending homer for Texas in a 3-2 victory over the NL Central leaders.
“J.T. gives us a little bit of hope with kind of a Hail-Mary type. … That was clutch right there,” manager Don Mattingly said. “When Brett (Anderson) throws you a bunch of zeroes, keeps you in the game, if you can’t take advantage then you didn’t do enough to win.”
Dodgers starter Anderson scattered eight hits and allowed two runs over a season-high eight innings. The lefty struck out four and walked three while throwing 114 pitches before Josh Ravin (2-1) took over and gave up Chirinos’ sixth homer.
“It was a 1-1 count, and if you go back and look, it was probably right over the plate,” Ravin said.
Texas won both home games against the Dodgers, though the teams play again Wednesday and Thursday in Los Angeles.
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.
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, an inside fastball.
“I was questioning myself that maybe I should have went away, I should have went changeup,” said Chirinos, the Texas catcher who had no need to apologize after his game-ending homer.
Gonzalez has allowed only three runs over 30 innings, giving him a 0.90 ERA so far in his four big-league starts. He struck out two and walked two while allowing five hits against the Dodgers.
“Very mature outing, was on the attack all night long. 105 pitches, one bad pitch,” Banister said. “Some really good hitters taking some not-so-good swings.”
BLUE NOTES
The Dodgers have lost three of their last five games after winning five of the previous six. … It was the fifth career game-tying or go-ahead RBI in the ninth inning or later for Turner, but his first since May 13, 2012 at Miami. … The Dodgers lead the NL with 83 homers.
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,” 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.