Kansas City Royals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score on Jul 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 8, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their amazing and often odd winning ways Saturday, scoring the winning run against the Kansas City Royals in the 10th inning without the benefit of a hit in a 5-4 victory.

Royals reliever Scott Alexander walked Chase Utley, Corey Seager and Justin Turner -- all on 3-2 pitches -- to load the bases with no outs, and closer Kelvin Herrera walked Cody Bellinger on a 3-2 pitch to score Utley.

It was the Dodgers' 25th win in their last 29 games, and they're 17-1 in their last 18 home games and 38-11 on the season. The win gives them 60 in the first half.

The Royals dropped their second game after coming to town with six wins in their last seven games. They're 18-8 in their last 26 contests.

The Dodgers led 3-2 after six, but reliever Brandon Morrow allowed three singles, a walk and a run in the seventh to tie the game. Pedro Baez rescued Morrow from a bases-loaded, one-out situation, striking out Lorenzo Cain and getting Eric Hosmer to ground out.

Cain was ejected after arguing the strike call with home plate umpire Bill Miller while walking on the field for the bottom of the seventh.

The Royals took their first lead in the eighth on Salvador Perez's home run off Baez, a drive to center that just eluded a leaping try by center fielder Joc Pederson. It was Perez's 18th home run of the season and 100th as a catcher.

The Dodgers tied it with their own long ball in the bottom of the eighth with Cody Bellinger hitting his 25th home run of the season, a blast to left center off Joakim Soria.

Whit Merrifield doubled and scored in the fifth and singled in the tying run in the seventh. Perez, Jorge Bonifacio, Eric Hosmer and Alcides Escobar also had two hits apiece. Bellinger and Pederson had two hits each for the Dodgers.

Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy went six innings, allowing two runs, six hits, two walks and a wild pitch. He got out of a three-hit third with just one run thanks to Pederson throwing Bonifacio out at home, and endured a touch of wildness that led to a run in the fifth.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy allowed seven hits and three runs but stranded four runners in scoring position. He retired 11 of last 13 batters he faced.

NOTES: Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal left the game in the seventh with a hand contusion. ... Dodger OF Scott Van Slyke was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room on the roster for Saturday's starter, Brandon McCarthy, who was activated from the disabled list. ... Dodgers 2B Chase Utley became the ninth active player with 1,000 career RBIs after a RBI double Friday night. The stoic infielder said the milestone meant "I played on a lot of great teams." Utley ranks in the top three in six categories among active second baseman -- first in triples, second in home runs and RBIs, and third in runs and hits. ... Royals RHP Matt Strahm is scheduled to undergo surgery this week to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. He's been on the disabled list for a few weeks as the team studied the alternatives to season-ending surgery. ... Royals RHP Nate Karns remains on the DL with thoracic outlet syndrome, a compressed nerve condition that causes pain and numbness in the shoulder and arm. He's on the 60-day DL and hopes of him returning later this season appear doubtful.