The Dodgers’ Corey Seager follows through on his two-run double during the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Rays at Dodger Stadium. Seager added another two-run double two innings later to help the Dodgers to a 7-5 victory. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Rays’ Joey Wendle steals second base as Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy leaps to catch a high throw during the second inning of Tuesday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers bench looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Caleb Ferguson #64 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Blake Snell #4 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Caleb Ferguson throws to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Corey Seager #5 along with teammate Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Julio Urias winds up during the second inning of the team’s baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers steals second base ahead of the tag by Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to first base after being hit by a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leads off third base against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Manager Dave Roberts #30 waits for Cody Bellinger #35 and teammate Max Muncy #13 as they scored on a double by Corey Seager (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Joey Wendle #18 of the Tampa Bay Rays scores against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers left fielder A.J. Pollock runs down a long fly ball as center fielder Cody Bellinger backs him up during the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Rays at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his RBI double against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers safe at first as Peter Fairbanks #44 of the Tampa Bay Rays bobbles the ball in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers doubles against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager follows through on another two-run double during the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager follows through on another two-run double during the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives manager Dave Robewerts #30 after scoring on a double by teammate Corey Seager (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Gavin Lux #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers RBI single against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers RBI double against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Ji-Man Choi #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda, of Japan, throws to a Tampa Bay Rays batter during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Kenta Maeda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as Jesus Aguilar #21 of the Tampa Bay Rays rounds third base after hitting a two run home run in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers comes into the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles Dodgers won 7-5. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen celebrates after the final out of their 7-5 victory over the Rays on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Jansen got the last four outs of the game for his 30th save of the season. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Corey Seager awoke Tuesday morning without a double in his last 55 plate appearances. An unremarkable streak for most baseball players, for Seager it was cause for separation anxiety. Seager without a double is a barnacle without a whale, Linus without his blanket, a freeway without traffic.
Twice in Tuesday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Seager batted with runners on second and third base. Twice Seager hit a double, giving him 41 for the season, and giving the Dodgers the go-ahead runs in an eventual 7-5 victory.
Seager became the sixth player in franchise history to record 40 doubles in separate seasons. One, Shawn Green, was among the announced crowd of 48,663 at Dodger Stadium.
“He just adds so much length to our lineup,” Manager Dave Roberts said of Seager. “To play a premium position defensively and be an impact bat, obviously it makes us considerably better.”
The 25-year-old shortstop is hitting .261 in his first full season since undergoing surgeries on his elbow and hip. On a Dodgers team that has nearly as many home runs (261) as doubles (285), Seager adds a different dimension. He has 41 doubles and 16 home runs while often batting fifth, sixth or seventh.
The Dodgers needed each of the six hits they collected against Rays starter Blake Snell and seven relievers. Seager’s doubles loomed the largest. His second two-bagger drove in two runs, breaking a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning against right-hander Peter Fairbanks (1-3). The Dodgers eventually scored five runs in the inning.
Kenta Maeda (10-8) allowed three runs in the eighth inning to make the final score close, but he was credited with the victory. Roberts said he had intended to let Maeda record the game’s final seven outs.
Instead, Kenley Jansen pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings to convert his third consecutive save opportunity. It was the first four-out save for Jansen since May, and his 30th this season.
“It’s been a while since I had a situation like this, where you really have to get going quick and get in the game,” Jansen said. “I really wanted Kenta to finish it. At the same time, it’s good for me to get that feeling again of get ready quick, try to get the next hitter and finish the game.”
The Rays held the Dodgers without a baserunner for four innings. Snell, the winner of last year’s American League Cy Young Award, had not pitched since July 21 because of elbow surgery. Mercifully for the Dodgers, Snell’s pitch count was limited. The left-hander struck out four of the six batters he faced in two perfect innings.
Right-hander Oliver Drake took over in the third inning and retired the next six batters in a row. Left-hander Colin Poche took over in the fifth and promptly walked Cody Bellinger, ending the Rays’ unlikely bid for a combined perfect game. When Bellinger poached second base and Poche hit Max Muncy with a fastball near the elbow, the Dodgers had a veritable rally.
Yet they did not have a hit until the next batter, Seager, deposited a baseball over the right-field fence on one hop. Bellinger and Muncy scored on the ground-rule double. The Dodgers were off the hook for the no-hitter and the shutout. At 2-1, they had their first lead.
The Rays got their first run in the second inning. Joey Wendle drew a walk, stole second base, advanced to third base on a balk by Dodgers starter Caleb Ferguson, and scored on a sacrifice fly. They got their second run in the sixth inning when Ji-Man Choi punished a hanging changeup from Pedro Baez for a home run.
Tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Muncy reached on a fielding error and Kiké Hernandez doubled to put runners on second and third base against Fairbanks. That set the stage for Seager’s second double, a gap-splitting laser to left-center field.
Leading 4-2, the Dodgers would score thrice more before the inning was over. Seager scampered home on a Gavin Lux single through a drawn-in infield. Will Smith scored on a single by A.J. Pollock. Lux scored on a double by Bellinger.
Both teams took advantage of their expanded September rosters. The Dodgers used eight pitchers to complete nine innings. The Rays used eight, too.
“A lot of these guys I haven’t seen too much of,” Lux said. “You just have to do your job, watch video, scout them as much as you can, and try to create a plan on the run.”
The win brought the Dodgers’ record to 98-54 and reduced their magic number to clinch home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series to five. Tampa Bay (89-63) – like the New York Mets, whom the Dodgers beat in two of their last three games – is still fighting to clinch a wild-card berth.
