Texas 4, Dodgers 1
KEY MOMENT: The sixth inning started identically for the Dodgers and Rangers. Both led off with two walks with the heart of the lineup stepping to the plate. For the Dodgers, the rally was short-lived. The Rangers used singles from Prince Fielder, Mitch Moreland and Rougned Odor to score four runs.
ON THE MOUND: Carlos Frias was, in the eyes of Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly, “cruising,” up until the sixth inning, when Frias said he tightened up sitting in the dugout. Frias, who issued the leadoff walks, wouldn’t make it out of the inning. He was charged with all four runs and the loss.
AT THE PLATE: The Dodgers didn’t get their first run until the eighth inning, when Yasmani Grandal lined a solo home run over the wall in right-center. The Dodgers out-hit the Rangers, 7-6, but stranded six runners on base. Howie Kendrick and Justin Turner led the team with two hits apiece.
PLANE PINCH HITTER: Dodgers players insisted their emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday sounded more harrowing than it was. The team’s plane, flying from San Diego to Dallas, was forced to turn around after difficulty with the plane’s stabilizer and autopilot, but several players said they couldn’t notice the difference in the air. “It was more like you driving in the car and the red light turns on — I’ll take it to the shop when I can,” Adrian Gonzalez said.
EXTRA BASES: The firing of Padres Manager Bud Black on Monday means Mattingly is now the second-longest tenured manager in the NL, behind Bruce Bochy, of the Giants. … Four Dodgers made rehab appearances with single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Paco Rodriguez, Joel Peralta and Brandon League all pitched one inning, and Scott Van Slyke played first base and homered on his second at-bat. … Mattingly said Carl Crawford will be close to playing rehab games when he is eligible to come off the disabled list in less than two weeks.
UP NEXT: Left-hander Brett Anderson (2-4, 3.57 ERA) will face Rangers right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-1, 0.42) at Globe Life Park in Arlington at 5 p.m. PDT TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.