Dodgers slump official ends as Kyle Tucker, Alex Freeland key rout of Astros

HOUSTON –– The Dodgers finally found the ingredients needed to snap out of their recent offensive malaise on Monday.A hitter-friendly venue, in the form of Houston’s Daikin Park.A woeful opposing pitching staff, facing an Astros team with the majors’ highest ERA.And, after a two-week scuffle that had frustrated almost every member of their lineup, some much-needed big swings that keyed an 8-3 victory in the opening game of this week’s series.“I like where our guys’ heads are at,” manager Dave Roberts said before first pitch.“There is a new sense of revitalization walking around the clubhouse today.”That energy might have initially picked up on Sunday, when the Dodgers snapped a four-game losing streak with a vibe-shifting win in St.

Louis.It wasn’t until they arrived in Houston, however, that the club snapped a stunning six-game home run drought, rediscovered a relentless identity up and down the batting order, and finally broke out with a complete offensive display –– scoring their most runs since April 25 in a dominant 13-hit display.The onslaught began in the first inning, when the Dodgers strung together three two-out hits against Astros opener Steven Okert, including an RBI knock from ex-Astros star Kyle Tucker.Then, with the Astros up 2-1 in the second, it was none other than light-swinging No.9 hitter Alex Freeland who ended the club’s longest stretch without a homer since 2014.

He belted an opposite-field drive into the short Crawford Boxes in left.It would mark the first of seven unanswered runs from the Dodgers (22-13) that helped them pull far and clear away.The offensive resurgence was also aided by Will Smith, who had three hits, including a go-ahead double later in the second; and Freddie Freeman, who added a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth.Tucker followed up his opening-inning knock with the team’s second home run of the evening in the third inning, as well, snapping his own 13-game long ball drought with a ...