Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After having their winning streak ended last night in frustrating fashion, the Dodgers are now working towards a losing streak, continuing to play terrible baseball in Miami in a 2-1 loss to the Marlins.
——
Marlins starter Pablo Lopez has been impressive this year, and he started strong, surrendering no hits through the first three innings. The Dodgers’ only baserunners came on a walk, hit by pitch, and error, but what a glorious error from Jesus Aguilar it was, by the way.
They were given a huge break to begin the 4th, as a Cody Bellinger single got past Garrett Cooper in right to put him at third. Will Smith immediately took advantage of this with a single to make it 1-0. Another single from Chris Taylor put two on, but Lopez rebounded with strikeouts of Gavin Lux and AJ Pollock. An infield single from Gonsolin loaded the bases, but Mookie Betts continued to not take advantage of moments like this in 2021 and struck out.
That was it for Lopez, though, as he threw 91 pitches. No matter, as the Marlins pen was effective. Steven Okert and Anthony Bass cruised through scoreless frames in the 5th and 6th, respectively. The 7th was different as Dylan Floro got into some trouble with a walk and a single, but prevented damage. Similar happened in the 8th when Richard Bleier gave up a single, stolen base, and a walk, but the Dodgers failed to take advantage of the chance. Old friend Yimi Garcia got the 9th, erasing a lead-off single with a double play, then giving up a single off the wall in right and a walk before putting up a 0.
That was basically the story of the game.
Meanwhile, Tony Gonsolin had things working well and made his best start of the season. The only time he faced any trouble was in the 3rd when he allowed a double, but he otherwise cruised through 5.1 innings. He wasn’t exactly dominant but was never in trouble the entire outing: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 72 Pitches.
That was it for Gonsolin due to what I assume is pitch count, and due to a pen game tomorrow, Jake Reed was first in to make his MLB debut. He immediately gave up an infield single and stolen base, but rebounded by registering his first MLB strikeout. Reed then induced a grounder that seemed to end it, but instead Lux let it eat him up to score a run and tie things at 1-1. A double followed and an intentional walk loaded the bases before Reed was able to get out of the 6th.
Garrett Cleavinger was tasked with the 7th, getting two outs and then surrendering an infield single to Jazz Chisholm, who showed off his blazing speed. Phil Bickford then entered for matchup reasons, and Chisholm was thrown out by Smith attempting to steal second, though on replay he certainly looked safe.
Jimmy Nelson wasn’t at his best in terms of command, but after hitting a batter and a stolen base, he managed to keep the game tied in the 8th. Scott Alexander was given the 9th, for god knows what reason, immediately surrendering a single and a walk. After a strikeout, he got unlucky with an infield single to load the bases, and then rebounded with another strikeout to put the Dodgers on the brink.
Dave Roberts then turned to the back end of the pen anyway in Blake Treinen. Smith got saved by the umpire’s leg on one wild pitch before Treinen got out of the mess.
In extras, David Hess came in for the Marlins and CT3 tried to bunt for whatever reason and Smith got thrown out at third. Lux then singled, but nothing further came out of the inning, a recipe for disaster in this format.
Treinen continued for the Dodgers and was on the verge of getting out of the inning after starting with a strikeout and ground out, but then … well.
Yikes.
——
53-33 on the year now.
Dueling pen game at like 1:00 PM HST/4:00 PM PST/7:00 PM EST tomorrow.
