Dodgers capitalize on mistakes, hold on to beat Rays

The Dodgers took advantage of a pair of Rays mistakes early, and held on to win late, a 3-2 victory over Tampa Bay to open their short two-game interleague series on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Up 3-0 in the eighth inning, the Rays mounted a comeback, with three straight hits to open the inning against Joe Blanton. That scored one run, and a wild pitch by Luis Avilan scored another. But Avilan rebounded to strike out Corey Dickerson and, after an intentional walk to right-handed Steve Pearce, got lefty Kevin Kiermaier to pop out to end the inning with the tying run 90 feet away.

Kenley Jansen had a ninth inning a bit less dramatic, even though a runner did reach scoring position and he hit another batter. But he closed the door for his 30th save of the season. It is Jansen's third 30-save season of his career, tying him with Eric Gagne and Todd Worrell for the most in franchise history.

The gifts for the Dodgers came in the third inning, after Rays starter Chris Archer retired the first seven batters of the game. Joc Pederson grounded to second base, but first baseman Steve Pearce dropped the throw, allowing Pederson to reach base. After a sacrifice bunt, Chase Utley hit a tapper fielded in front of the mound by Archer, who threw wildly to first base, extending the inning.

Corey Seager and Justin each followed with run-scoring singles to give the Dodgers the lead.

For Seager, it extended his hitting streak to nine games, hitting .386 (17-for-44) during the streak.

The single for Turner gave him 43 RBI in his last 43 games.

Bud Norris made that hold up, pitching scoreless baseball into the seventh inning for his longest start as a Dodger, allowing only two hits while striking out six and walking two.

Tampa only mounted two threats against Norris, who worked around a leadoff double by Steve Pearce in the second inning, thanks in part to intentionally walking weak-hitting catcher Luke Maile to get to Archer, who struck out looking to end the inning.

Norris left with a runner on first base and one out in the seventh, then after J.P. Howell walked his only batter faced Pedro Baez induced a pop out and a ground out to end the frame.

Power surge

Yasmani Grandal crushed a ball into the right field bullpen off Archer for a much-needed insurance run in the seventh inning, 106 mph off the bat. It was the seventh home run for Grandal in July, in 68 plate appearances, matching his home run total for the first three months of the season.

"Yasi's been unbelievable. He's obviously swinging the bat a lot better. Again, a big homer tonight," manager Dave Roberts said. "And behind the plate, he's been great."

Grandal on the season is tied with Salvador Perez of the Royals with 14 home runs hit as a catcher in 2016, second in baseball only to Wilson Ramos of the Nationals, who hit his 15th home run on Tuesday night.

Tuesday particulars

Home run: Yasmani Grandal (14)

WP - Bud Norris (6-9): 6⅓ IP, 2 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts

LP - Chris Archer (5-14): 7 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs (1 earned), 8 strikeouts

Sv - Kenley Jansen (30): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 HBP, 2 strikeouts