Dodgers save Ohtani for once

Freeman's homer lifts them to sweep after a season-worst start by their star

- BY LIANA HANDLER

Photographs by RONALDO BOLAÑOS Los Angeles Times

FREDDIE FREEMAN rounds the bases after hitting a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning of a 5-4 win over the Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins crashed chest first into the blue padding of the wall as he made one last-ditch effort to save his team from a Dodgers home run. His glove, though, came up empty.

Not even a leaping Mullins, one of baseball's veteran home-run robbers, could stop Freddie Freeman from doing what the Dodgers first baseman does best: hitting clutch home runs.

Freeman's two-run home run in the sixth inning Wednesday, set up by Andy Pages' double an at-bat earlier, lifted the Dodgers to a 5-4 win that allowed them to maintain a season-high nine-game lead over their closest National League West rival, the San Diego Padres (38-35). For the Dodgers (48-27), it was their sixth sweep of the season all while surviving a shaky start on the mound by the usually unshakable Shohei Ohtani.

"He's like a lot of our guys when they feel good, they get their rest, production follows," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Freeman. "He's been good for quite some time."

SHOHEI Ohtani gave up a season-worst four earned runs in the fifth inning, possibly feeling the effects of knee inflammation.