The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux, right, celebrates with teammate Chris Taylor after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, congratulates Gavin Lux, center, as Mookie Betts looks on after Lux hit a three-run home run during the eighth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches as a home run by Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners goes over the wall in the outfield during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with Manny Acta #14 of the Seattle Mariners as he rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners’ Mitch Haniger, left, is congratulated by Kyle Seager after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux throws out Seattle Mariners’ Dylan Moore at first during the second inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners makes a catch for an out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi takes his hat off to right fielder Mitch Haniger after Haniger made a catch on a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ Gavin Lux during the third inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor, right, is safe at third for a triple ahead of the tag of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager during the fourth inning of an interleague baseball game Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides into third base for a triple against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Yusei Kikuchi #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after closing out the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws to the plate during the first inning of an interleague baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles to right field against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Gavin Lux #9 and Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scored. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a catch for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 6-4. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux, right, celebrates with teammate Chris Taylor after hitting a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Gavin Lux #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Matt Beaty #45 and Chris Taylor #3 after hitting a three-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 6-4. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, congratulates Gavin Lux, center, and Chris Taylor after Lux hit a three-run home run during the eighth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws to the plate during the ninth inning of an interleague baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 6-4. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, and relief pitcher Kenley Jansen congratulate each other after the Dodgers defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-4 in an interleague baseball game Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers haven’t played like the defending World Series champions for the better part of three weeks. Gavin Lux had not hit a home run since September of last year.
In a moment tailor-made for a player and his team, Lux lifted the Dodgers with one big swing in the eighth inning Tuesday night.
The 23-year-old infielder crushed a three-run home run to right-center field against Rafael Montero, sending the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners before an announced crowd of 15,570 at Dodger Stadium, a limited-capacity sellout.
The win allowed the Dodgers to stay above .500 for another day and boosted the spirits of a team that had fallen from first to third place in the National League West during a 5-15 skid.
“It definitely felt good,” Lux said. “Especially in that situation.”
The Dodgers (19-17) came back from a 4-1 deficit to beat the Mariners (18-18). They were previously 0-9 when trailing after seven innings this season.
With two outs in the seventh inning, a two-run single by Corey Seager narrowed the Dodgers’ deficit to 4-3. With runners on first and third and a chance to pull ahead, however, Justin Turner struck out on five pitches to end the inning.
At that point, the Dodgers were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position – a familiar, futile script. Turner finished 0 for 4 with a career-high four strikeouts.
With two outs in the eighth inning, Chris Taylor singled and Montero hit Matt Beaty with a rather literal back-foot slider. That set the stage for Lux to clear the bases. At 413 feet, the ball left no doubt of its destiny upon contact.
Before circling the bases, Lux thumped his chest as he yelled words of encouragement toward the home dugout – a rare moment of abandon for the struggling infielder. He was hitting .209 when the day began.
Lux had shown flashes of emotion before, but by his own admission “that takes the cake.”
“You can see the pent-up emotion inside of him come out,” Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler said. “He keeps hitting the ball like that, he can yell and scream whenever he pleases.”
Buehler did not factor into the decision after he allowed four runs in seven innings. The right-hander surrendered three home runs, including two by Mariners right fielder Mitch Haniger. He also struck out eight batters.
Left-hander Garrett Cleavinger (1-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to pick up his first major league win. Kenley Jansen threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning, recording his sixth save of the season.
Taylor finished 3 for 4 with a triple against his former team, and Lux had two of the Dodgers’ nine hits.
The Dodgers began the day with a .209 batting average against left-handed starters. Seattle’s Yusei Kikuchi was unsurprisingly effective. He limited the Dodgers to three runs on six hits in 6-1/3 innings while striking out 11, a career high. Only Max Muncy’s fourth-inning home run left the ballpark before Lux’s blast.
“Justin just really didn’t have an answer for him,” Roberts said of Kikuchi. “If a guy can punch JT out four times, you know he just wasn’t seeing him well.”
Back in the clubhouse after the game, the Dodgers’ individual failures were a moot point. Lux said he felt more joy than relief. Beer was spilled in celebration of the occasion, which was suddenly worth savoring.
The Dodgers swept their first six-game homestand of the season, back on April 9-15. They have won only three games on their home field since.
“It’s been a tough couple weeks for us,” Buehler said. “I don’t think there’s any way to sugarcoat it. A big win can change the tides.”
