LOS ANGELES — The Texas Rangers fought the Los Angeles Dodgers all night long with good pitching and clutch defense, including an incredible double play by Rougned Odor followed by a spectacular catch by Delino DeShields to keep the game going past the 10th inning.

But the Dodgers prevailed in the 11th on a wild throw home by relief pitcher Matt Bush for a 3-2 victory and series sweep.

First, there was a violent play at the plate that led to two ejections and a benches-clearing incident. Enrique Hernandez dodged home in the 11th after drawing a leadoff walk from Jesse Chavez (2-1).

The Rangers have lost a season-high six games going into their series with the Colorado Rockies.

Matt Kemp and Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos got ejected and the benches and bullpens cleared.
With two outs, Hernandez singled to right and Kemp tried to score from second base. Chirinos caught a pinpoint throw by Nomar Mazara and had his glove out to tag Kemp.
Kemp barreled into Chirinos with his arms up, leading with his shoulder. Chirinos' helmet flew off as he got knocked over and Kemp fell, too. Chirinos held onto the ball for the out.
Chirinos and Kemp jostled as they got up. That led to both benches and bullpens clearing and forming a scrum at the plate. Kemp was restrained by Rangers starter Cole Hamels.
"I didn't know he was going to come after me like that," Chirinos said. "I got mad when Kemp got up and he leaned into me and put his shoulder into me. That's when I rushed him. Everyone knows the rule, they preach it to us in spring training. It was emotional."
No punches were thrown.
"It's not a big deal," Kemp said. "Two guys shoving each other and it's over."

The rules outlaw runners from plowing into catchers, and catchers have to give runners a lane to the plate in most cases. In this play, the throw home took Chirinos directly into Kemp's path to the plate.

"I think it's unclear to everybody," Kemp said of the newer rule. "He was blocking the plate. I don't know the rule. I don't even know how it works. I didn't have a clear path to slide. All I could really think about when I saw him blocking the plate was Washington when I slid into home and messed up my ankle. I didn't want to do that again."
Crew chief Bill Welke said Kemp didn't violate the rule, and both players were ejected for their tussle after the play.

"The runner is protected by the blocking of the plate if he slides," Welke told a pool reporter after the game. "Kemp choose not to slide, therefore he lost his protection."

 


TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: SS Elvis Andrus (right elbow fracture) went 1-for-7 in his first two rehab games at Double-A Frisco and was to set to be the DH and play seven innings on Wednesday. Manager Jeff Banister says Andrus' return depends on when he's in shape to play every day. Andrus isn't expected to rejoin the team before this weekend. ... LHP Matt Moore won't start this weekend and is being sent to the bullpen to work on his delivery and make necessary adjustments.
PASSING ICHIRO
Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre doubled in the fourth inning, giving him 3,090 career hits to break a tie with Ichiro Suzuki for the most by a a non-U.S. native.
 

NEXT FIVE

Friday – Colorado Rockies (Chad Bettis, 4-1, 4.40) at Texas Rangers (Yohander Mendez), 7:10 p.m., FSSW

Saturday – Colorado Rockies (Kyle Freeland, 6-6, 3.68) at Texas Rangers (Matt Moore, 1-5, 7.88), 3:05 p.m., FSSW

Sunday – Colorado Rockies (Jon Gray, 6-6, 5.66) at Texas Rangers (Bartolo Colon 3-3, 4.16), 2:05 p.m., FSSW

Monday– Texas Rangers (Cole Hamels 3-6, 3.86) at  Kansas City Royals (Ian Kennedy 1-6, 5.76), 7 p.m., FSSW

Tuesday — Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals, 7 p.m., FSSW