Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers started the first game of the doubleheader by destroying any potential momentum they may have built off in the series-ending blowout against the Brewers by absolutely laying an egg to start against the Cubs in a 7-1 loss.
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Clayton Kershaw started the 1st inning, which was also the only inning he pitched. With one out, he then allowed a double, single, walk, single, double, and walk in order to plate four runs make it 4-0 early on.
Due to him needing to throw 39 pitches, I assume he was taken out for precautionary reasons, and quite frankly even allowing that might’ve been negligent.
Thus, Dennis Santana took over in the 2nd, issuing a walk but getting a scoreless frame. The same could not be said in the 3rd when he got the first two outs on four pitches, then hit a batter, gave up a single, allowed a stolen base, and uncorked a wild pitch that ended up scoring both runners when Austin Barnes‘ throw deflected away from Santana to make it 6-0.
Jimmy Nelson got the 4th, striking out the side and at least showing mercy to Dodgers fans watching. Alex Vesia took over in the 5th and got another clean inning, then he got the 6th as well, though not before giving up a homer to make it 7-0.
Meanwhile, Kyle Hendricks came into today with an ERA over 7, but he didn’t have much trouble handling a struggling Dodgers lineup today. He faced one at-bat with a runner in scoring position in each of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, but otherwise completely shut the Dodgers down through six innings.
Unfortunately for him, he ran into Keibert Ruiz with one out in the 7th, and he promptly ripped a homer to right on the first pitch he saw to make it 7-1.
After a single and two errors on the same play by Javier Baez that put runners on the corners, he induced a double play to end it.
Pain.
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The Dodgers are 17-13.
The next game starts in just under three hours.
