OOTP 21: June 18, 2020 – D-backs 10, Dodgers 7 – May and Petey crumble early

Losing at home for the third time in four days, the Los Angeles Dodgers (42-33) wrapped up a pretty disappointing series with the Arizona Diamondbacks (33-42) on Thursday with a 10-7 final.

Of course, Dustin May’s second outing didn’t go well, as he allowed six runs on eight hits in just 3 IP. Solo shots by Justin Turner and Code Bellinger offered May a reprieve after conceding two runs in the 1st inning, but another four runs crossed in the third as Eduardo Escobar and Jake Lamb each connected on home runs.

Facing a four-run deficit entering the 4th inning, it only got worse for the Dodgers. Pedro Baez showed up set on raising his ERA a bit, with it now sitting at 5.27 after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 IP. Kenley Jansen (?) entered in the 5th inning of a 9-2 game, showing just how far he’s fallen as well, and pitched a scoreless 1 1/3.

While the rest of the bullpen (Brandon Kintzler, Adam Kolarek and Joe Kelly) pitched a scoreless three innings to finish the day, the offense showed up a little too late against Zac Gallen and the Diamondbacks bullpen.

Will Smith made it three homers off of Gallen in the 7th before Tyler White connected for a double to finally end the starter’s day. Kevin McCanna entered and allowed the rally to continue, highlighted by a two-run double for Gavin Lux. McCanna managed to walk three and allow the double without recording an out, but the D-backs were saved by Andrew Chafin.

Chafin allowed one run, with Joc Pederson doubling and eventually crossing home plate, but Kevin Ginkel and Archie Bradley closed out the victory.

Amazingly 11 hits and 8 walks wasn’t enough for the win, with Lux, Smith, Pederson and Mookie Botts all finishing with two-hit games. Meanwhile, 2 through 6 of the D-backs lineup finished 11-for-23 with 7 runs scored and 7 RBIs.

As for the D-backs, OOTP’s quote for the day was Escobar describing the clubhouse as “strangely calm” after the game. Of all the weird and boring things I’ve seen so far, that is definitely the strangest. Good for the fake D-backs for not celebrating too much after winning the series in LA.

Friday’s series opener against the Detroit Tigers (24-50) pits the very good Walker Buehler against an extremely overpaid Jordan Zimmermann. In the final year of his 5-year, $110 million contract, Zimmermann enters with an ERA well over 5.00.