The Los Angeles Dodgers looked doomed after Kansas City starting pitcher Cole Ragans retired the first 10 hitters he faced on Friday and the Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a home run from Salvador Perez.
But starter Gavin Stone almost matched Ragans, retiring eight of the first nine batters he faced. After Perez’s homer, he only allowed one more hit while completing seven innings for the fourth time in his past nine starts.
“I feel like that’s my job, more or less – to go deep in games, give us some length, and let the bullpen come in and do their job in the later innings,” Stone said.