Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers were in danger of having an actual losing streak after dropping the last two games of the series against the Rockies and then being down in the first game of the series against the Diamondbacks. However, they calmly mounted a comeback to win that game in extras, then won again in extras yesterday, and found themselves going for the series sweep all off a sudden today.
Unfortunately they could not get it done in a 5-2 loss tonight, mostly thanks to not taking advantage of the chances given, but the main concern has to be the health of their young starter.
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Dustin May‘s night got off to an ominous start as the first batter of the game hit him in the foot/ankle area with a comebacker and it certainly seemed to catch him solid as he was limping around for quite a while.
Eventually he had to leave the game after attempting to warm up in the 2nd, as Dave Roberts, the trainer, and eventually the umpire had to convince him to give it up. He gave up two hits in his only inning, but didn’t surrender a run.
Victor Gonzalez started the 2nd in what was essentially a pen game at that point, giving up an infield single but also getting a strikeout in his scoreless frame.
Thankfully, Madison Bumgarner continued his season-long struggle right after signing a new contract, and he gave up solo shots to Corey Seager and AJ Pollock on consecutive pitches in the 3rd to make it 2-0.
Alex Wood took over in the 3rd and aimed to give the Dodgers some length. But he ran into immediate trouble on a Max Muncy error and then back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 2. Thankfully, he managed to rebound to prevent further damage, notching a strikeout in the process.
The Dodgers then let a golden opportunity escape in the 4th, putting runners on second and third with nobody out after an Enrique Hernandez single and Will Smith double, but allowing MadBum to escape after an Austin Barnes fly out to center that wasn’t deep enough to score Enrique, a risky intentional walk to Mookie Betts, and inducing Corey Seager to ground into a double play.
The Dodgers also screwed up another scoring chance in the 6th. After Enrique walked, Smith singled and was thrown out trying to get back to first after the throw to third to get Enrique was cut. Barnes then walked to put runners at the corners, and the Dodgers ran into another out on a double steal.
After Mookie eventually walked on a bizarre sequence where nobody realized it was ball four and Mookie actually fouled off a pitch before they overturned it on replay, Corey Seager grounded out to end another threat.
Meanwhile, with Tony Gonsolin being skipped in the rotation, he was available today and entered in the 4th. He went two scoreless before giving up three runs in the 6th on a single, triple, and then Carson Kelly homer to make it 5-2. He ended up essentially being the starter for the game, going five innings on 80 pitches, giving up the three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out three. Not his best outing, but considering the circumstances he did rather amazing work.
Can’t say the same for the bats, who in addition to the messes already shown, went 0-for-6 with RISP. A winnable game, but that’s how it goes.
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The Dodgers fall to 32-13 on the season, and with the Padres winning, the NL West lead is now 3.5 games.
The Dodgers are off tomorrow but will welcome the Cheating Fucks Astros to Dodger Stadium the day after at 2:07 PM HST/5:07 PM PST/8:07 PM EST. The matcup of Julio Urias and Framber Valdez will be on FOX.
