‘Cheater, cheater!’: Fans fume as LA Dodgers suffer record loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to a shocking 18-1 defeat to the Houston Astros on Friday night and the home crowd took out their frustrations on one of the visiting Astros stars.

The Fourth of July loss was the biggest home defeat since the team moved to Dodger Stadium in 1962. The last time the Dodgers lost by 17 runs was in July 1947, at that point based in Brooklyn, with a 19-2 loss to the New York Giants.

“That was one you want to flush as soon as possible,” said Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager, after the game. “I don’t think there were many positives from this night.”

The home fans at Dodger Stadium for the Independence Day game did at least take the opportunity to take aim at an old enemy in the Astros team. Jose Altuve hit two home runs for the Astros, also driving in five runs, but he was booed throughout the game with chants of ‘Cheater, cheater!’ against the Venezuelan.

Altuve is one of only two remaining member of the 2017 Astros team that beat the Dodgers in a controversial World Series. That Houston team were later found to have used video technology to steal signs from the Dodgers, then banging a trash can on the sideline to relay pitch information to batters.

The Houston Astros were disciplined for their use of a video camera system and hit with a $5 million fine and tripped of several draft picks. However they were able to keep their World Series title, at the Dodgers’ expense.

Despite Friday’s loss the Dodgers remain top of the American League West with a .602 record on the season. They will have the chance to make amends for Friday’s mauling when they take on the Astros again on Saturday in the second installment of the three-game series.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.