Miguel Rojas delivered a decisive pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Rojas, who entered the game for Alex Freeland, connected with a pitch from reliever Steven Matz to clear the center field fence and put the Dodgers ahead.

Prior to the game, Rojas had been seen energizing his teammates in the dugout, even engaging catcher Dalton Rushing, who was in full gear, in a lighthearted moment. Despite the pregame exuberance, Rojas’ go-ahead homer was greeted with quiet confidence, reflecting his veteran composure. The blast marked only the second pinch-hit home run of his career and his first since April 20.

The Dodgers, now 46-27 on the season, snapped a middling stretch on the road in which they went 3-3 during a six-game trip capped by a loss to the Chicago White Sox. Monday’s win provides a boost as they continue their home stand.

Kyle Tucker also stood out for Los Angeles, temporarily halting a recent slump. Coming into the game with a .239 average, the lowest among Dodgers regulars with at least 60 games played, Tucker hit a solo home run in the second inning off Rays starter Nick Martinez to level the score at 3-3. Understanding the stakes, Tucker battled through an eight-pitch at-bat before sending a changeup 384 feet over the wall in right-center. He later contributed defensively by throwing out a baserunner attempting to score in the third inning.

Tampa Bay (41-28) had taken an early lead, capitalizing on shaky pitching from Dodgers starter Eric Lauer. The left-hander, who was unbeaten in three prior starts with Los Angeles after a challenging beginning to the season, struggled with control. Lauer allowed three runs over six innings, issuing six hits and three walks while striking out four. His fastball command was notably off, with only 42% of his four-seamers hitting the strike zone compared to his usual 53.7%, contributing to a reduced chase rate by opposing batters.

The Rays opened the scoring in the first inning when Junior Caminero doubled and Ryan Vilade followed with a home run, briefly silencing the sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium. Tampa Bay added an additional run on a safety squeeze play in the early innings.

Nick Martinez matched Lauer’s output on the mound, pitching 5⅓ innings and surrendering three runs on six hits, while striking out six and walking one. After a relatively quiet middle period, the game’s tension intensified in the late innings before Rojas’ game-winning homer shifted momentum definitively to the Dodgers.

The victory marked a strong response from Los Angeles after a mixed road trip and showcased contributions from both veterans and emerging players as the team continues its pursuit of postseason success.