around that have seen me before and they have helped me. That’s helped me a lot,” Pages said of returning to the Dodgers after spending two weeks in Triple-A.

“Just working hard every day. Control what I can control and wait until they give me the opportunity.”

The Guardians’ bullpen lived up to its statistical billing after that, allowing just one more run over the next seven innings– a solo home run by Mookie Betts in the fourth inning. Betts has six home runs and 23 RBI in 24 games since returning from his fractured left hand in mid-August. In September, he is 9 for 20 (.450) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

“He’s in playoff mode. He’s taking great at-bats,” Roberts said of Betts. “Guys are following his lead and seeing what Shohei’s doing and what Freddie’s doing. Everyone else is sort of following suit.”

For his part, Betts said he had no expectation that he would need to ease back into things after missing nearly two months and taking only live batting practice before returning (no minor league injury-rehabilitation assignment).

“No, absolutely not,” Betts said. “I just wanted to make sure I was healthy and put the best Mookie out there, and I’ve been doing okay so far.”

The Dodgers’ relievers, meanwhile, had to pick their way through a minefield to make the lead stand up. They did so by holding the Guardians hitless in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“We managed to make pitches when we needed to,” Roberts said. “It seemed like there was a lot of stressful innings and a lot of traffic tonight. But the guys made pitches when they needed to.”

Michael Grove followed ‘opener’ Ryan Brasier and allowed a two-run home run to Lane Thomas in the second inning.

Rookie left-hander Justin Wrobleski was up next and he allowed five baserunners in his two innings — three walks, a double and a hit batter — and stranded them all.

“He’s very green,” Roberts said of Wrobleski who has allowed 47 baserunners in his 32 1/3 big league innings. “Talented, but there’s a lot to be cleaned up at this level. He had a quick ascent to the big leagues. I love the compete. He’s not afraid. The stuff is there. But ... there’s as many balls as there are strikes. He’s got to learn to make quality pitches. But he’ll learn that in time.”

Right-hander Blake Treinen took the fifth inning and came within a foot or so of allowing another two-run home run. But Kyle Manzardo’s drive just cleared Edman’s glove and hit off the top of the center-field wall, bouncing back onto the field for a double that put runners on second and third with one out. Treinen struck out Daniel Schneemann and Thomas to end the threat.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech gave up a leadoff single and stranded the runner at third in the seventh inning.

Brent Honeywell Jr. handled the final two innings uneventfully.