Taylor’s Grand Slam Helps Dodgers Snap Baltimore’s 8-game Winning Streak With 6–4 Victory

Chris Taylor (3) of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Mookie Betts (50) after hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park in Baltimore at Camden Yards on July 17, 2023. Greg Fiume/Getty Images

BALTIMORE—Chris Taylor hit a grand slam on an 0-2 pitch in the sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat Baltimore 6–4, snapping the Orioles’ eight-game winning streak Monday night, July 17.

Los Angeles trailed 4–1 entering the sixth before Will Smith’s RBI single. Baltimore starter Grayson Rodriguez left with men on first and second and nobody out, and for a moment it looked like Bryan Baker (3–3) might escape the jam when he induced two straight flyouts.

But after getting ahead 0–2 on Jason Heyward, Baker issued a walk to load the bases. After an 0–2 count on Taylor, the right-hander kept throwing fastballs around the plate, and following a couple more foul balls, the Los Angeles shortstop hit a drive to center field for his 12th homer of the year.

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, second from left, talks to catcher Adley Rutschman (35) and pitching coach/director of pitching Chris Holt (38) during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Baltimore on July 17, 2023. Julio Cortez/AP Photo

Emmet Sheehan (3–0) allowed four runs in five innings, but the Orioles did not come all that close to scoring on the Los Angeles bullpen.

Ryan Brasier worked a hitless ninth for his first save since joining the Dodgers last month. He did allow a walk to Colton Cowser leading off the inning when he was called for a pitch timer violation with the count full.

Freddie Freeman finished a homer shy of the cycle for the Dodgers, and his triple to center—which Aaron Hicks couldn’t quite hold onto at the wall—started the big sixth inning.

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman moves to second base on a wild pitch by Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Baltimore, on July 17, 2023. Julio Cortez/AP Photo

Adley Rutschman homered for the Orioles.

Ryan Mountcastle opened the scoring for Baltimore with an RBI double in the first. Adam Frazier hit a run-scoring grounder in the second, and Gunnar Henderson followed with an RBI triple to make it 3–0.

After J.D. Martinez’s RBI single in the fourth, Rutschman made it 4–1 with a solo homer in the fifth.

Return

One of baseball’s top prospects when he made his debut early this season, Rodriguez was sent down after posting a 7.35 ERA in 10 starts. He was recalled to make Monday’s start and was sharp early, reaching triple digits with his fastball. But he was charged with four runs in five-plus innings when the runners he left in the fifth both ended up scoring.

It’s Official

Baltimore signed OF Enrique Bradfield, its first-round draft pick.

Trainer’s Room

Dodgers: Heyward (neck soreness) was in the lineup and went 0 for 2 but drew the game’s key walk.

Orioles: OF Cedric Mullins (quad tightness) missed a second straight game.

Up Next

The Orioles send RHP Tyler Wells (7–4) to the mound against RHP Michael Grove (1–2) of the Dodgers on Tuesday night.

By Noah Trister