Padres 5, Dodgers 3: Defense embarrasses itself late for a sweep

Chad Moriyama 06/23/2021 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

After looking absolutely hapless in dropping the first two games of this series against the Padres, the Dodgers played things a lot closer tonight in a great back-and-forth playoff-esque game. Unfortunately, this only provided a chance to get embarrassed as the Dodgers collapsed late and got swept by the Padres after a 5-3 loss.

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Trevor Bauer seemed to make an adjustment in his last start that got him back on track, but even that couldn’t help him dodge the trend of first inning barrages from the Padres. He gave up back-to-back solo shots to Jake Cronenworth (yes, again) and Manny Machado to make it 2-0 early.

He did settle in after that, retiring the next six batters before issuing a walk and a steal that led to nothing in the 3rd. Bauer got fortunate in the 4th, when he allowed a walk and then a double that bounced over the wall to prevent a run from scoring. After an intentional walk to get to the pitcher’s spot, he escaped the bases-loaded jam.

Joe Musgrove got knocked around the last time he faced the Dodgers, but the only baserunner he allowed through three tonight was batter he hit. The 4th proved more difficult as he was greeted by a Max Muncy double to lead things off, a fly out advanced him to third, and a Cody Bellinger walk cornered the runners. Will Smith then came through with a RISP, going down to dig out a single to cut the lead in half.

Matt Beaty followed by grounding to first, but on the attempted turn, Fernando Tatis Jr. threw the ball into the dirt for an error that scored Bellinger and tied the game, though they didn’t get anything more.

Musgrove bounced back with two scoreless frames to end his outing.

Craig Stammen relieved him in the 7th, cruising through a 1-2-3 inning.

Meanwhile, Bauer got scoreless frames in the 5th and 6th, but allowed to continue in the 7th he gave up a solo homer to Victor Caratini and then issued a walk before being removed from the game. Other than the homers, he was good … unfortunately, there were three of them: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 10 K, 102 Pitches.

On one hand, Bauer’s BABIP is unsustainably low. On the other hand, he’s tied for fourth in the majors in homers allowed with 17, so I guess it makes sense.

Blake Treinen was summoned from the pen, getting a ground out that moved the runner to second, but he then picked that runner off at second, and got a strikeout to avoid the deficit growing.

Emilio Pagan got the 8th and gave up a unique double to Muncy past a diving Manny Machado shifted into right. Then Justin Turner came up and slapped a ball the other way to tie the game.

Treinen continued in the 8th and the inning contrasted heavily with the Padres playing elite defense all series. Things started by Beaty taking a Magellan route and then whiffing on a “double” and then JT double-cluching a bouncer to third to put two runners on.

Victor Gonzalez then entered, was greeted by a sac bunt, issued an intentional walk, and then unintentionally walked Trent Grisham to force in a run.

Joe Kelly entered, gave up a rocket to right which Beaty almost botched again, but resulted in just a sac fly and a 5-3 deficit before he got out of it.

Mark Melancon then closed it out, giving up a single and a walk, but then Machado turned a line drive into a double play to end it.

Fitting, really.

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Sometimes the reliance on replays and cameras suck, but sometimes they give amazing looks at crazy close plays that we would’ve never gotten even like a decade ago.

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The Dodgers are now 44-30.

Game tomorrow against the Cubs at 4:10 PM HST/7:10 PM PST/10:10 PM EST. Walker Buehler against Zach Davies.

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