LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman hit a go-ahead RBI single to center field in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Friday.
Mookie Betts singled, settled at second on a bad swing by reliever Will Smith (0-3) and scored on Freeman’s hit.
Daniel Hudson (3-1) bagged the win with a scoreless inning of relief and Alex Vesia took charge of the ninth inning for his third save.
The Royals placed the potential tying run in the first inning with two outs in the ninth inning, thanks to a single by Puerto Rican pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez, but Nick Loftin raised a pop ball that meant the end of the duel.
The Dodgers tied the game 3-3 with two outs in the fifth inning.
For the Royals, Venezuelans Maikel García 4-2 with one run scored, Salvador Pérez 3-1 with one run scored and three RBIs, Freddy Fermín 1-0. The Puerto Ricans Velázquez 1-1, MJ Meléndez 2-1.
For the Dodgers, Dominican Teoscar Hernández 2-0. Cuban Andy Pagés 3-1 with one scored. Venezuelan Miguel Rojas was 3-2 with one run scored and two RBIs. Puerto Rican Kiké Hernández 3-0.
