Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers dropped the matinee finale against Cleveland on Thursday afternoon by a score of 12-5. It was not their best showing.
Things began poorly for the Dodgers and Rich Hill, as he allowed three runs and four hits in the first inning. It was clear he didn’t have anywhere near his best stuff — and hasn’t this entire season (a topic for another day). The Dodgers eventually got behind 5-0 due to some bad luck but mostly due to the Cleveland offense showing up.
It looked like things might swing back in the Dodgers’ favor. Cody Bellinger hit his 18th home run of the season in the fourth inning that got lodged in the right field foul pole. He’s very good.
In the fifth inning, future MLB MVP Chris Taylor, after a Yasiel Puig RBI double, launched a 2-run home run to bring the Dodgers to within a run at 5-4.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Dodgers would get on this day. The Clevelands came back in the bottom of the fifth — which Hill was, inexplicably, allowed to begin — and scored three runs on a Lonnie Chisenhall pinch-hit 3-run home run off Ross Stripling. That made it 8-4 and effectively put the game out of reach.
In the sixth, Austin Barnes led off with a double and Logan Forsythe walked. Joc Pederson scalded a line drive to center field at 106 MPH that was clearly an out off the bat. Barnes didn’t think so and was summarily doubled off second base by Bradley Zimmer.
BarnesBLAN?
— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) June 15, 2017
Both work, IMO.
Cleveland would score four more times to the Dodgers’ one, as Chris Hatcher allowed yet another home run. His time on the active roster is coming to an end, especially with Sergio Romo due back this weekend.
#Dodgers have allowed three players to hit their first home runs of the year in this series.
— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) June 15, 2017
Two by Hatcher (Erik Gonzalez today, Daniel Robertson on Tuesday) and one by Clayton Kershaw (Roberto Perez on Tuesday). Not a good look, fellas.
The Dodgers’ 6-game winning streak comes to an end. They sit at 41-26 and travel to Cincinnati for a 3-game weekend series with the Reds. Alex Wood (2.01 ERA, 1.88 FIP) takes on Tim Adleman (4.34 ERA, 5.01 FIP). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Pacific time.
