Watch: Dodgers defeat Rangers on walk-off balk by pitcher Keone Kela
Thursday night's MLB slate ended in somewhat odd fashion, as the Dodgers defeated the Rangers 1–0 thanks to a walk-off balk. A balk-off, if you will.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rangers rookie reliever Keone Kela, who notched his first career save on Wednesday night, walked the first two batters he faced before inducing a double play from Alberto Callaspo, leaving pinch runner Enrique Hernandez on third base and Jimmy Rollins coming to bat.
With the count at 1-2, Kela, pitching from the stretch, came set with his glove before flinching, appearing to have been unnerved by Hernandez's aggressive lead at third. The home plate umpire quickly signaled for a balk and the Dodgers' celebration ensued.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles News Group, it was the Dodgers first win on a balk in their final plate appearance since May 31, 2010 against the Diamondbacks. The most recent balk-off in MLB appears to have been the Indians' win over the Tigers on May 21 of last season. (H/T SB Nation)
• Nationals' Bryce Harper exits Thursday's game after injuring hamstring
The balk-off capped what had been a quality pitching duel, as the Rangers' Anthony Ranaudo threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings and the Dodgers' Zack Greinke bested him by one out, adding eight strikeouts while walking none. Greinke lowered his ERA to 1.81, good for second in the National League behind the Pirates' Gerrit Cole, who won his major league-leading 11th game on Thursday.
The Dodgers' win kept them from losing four straight to the Rangers. Texas beat the Dodgers at home Monday and Tuesday, then won in Los Angeles on Wednesday as well.
