Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a decisive win yesterday, the Dodgers got out to another quick start tonight. However, they stalled out after that due to a slew of double plays and bad luck, which gave the Diamondbacks time to get back into it and then capitalize to hand the Dodgers a 5-3 loss.
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The lineup got off to another quick start against the D-backs, this time with Zach Davies on the mound. For a pitcher who nibbles and relies on chases, the Dodgers were patient and worked quality at-bats, and the rally started with walks from Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner. After an infield single from Max Muncy, Will Smith stepped up and unloaded the bases by inside-outing a double to right-center for a 3-0 lead.
While the Dodgers made Davies work, they couldn’t add to their total. They stranded Smith in the 1st, two singles in the 2nd, and a walk in both the 3rd and 4th. They did make Davies throw 77 pitches in four innings, which led to his early exit.
Unfortunately, the game ended up tight. Tony Gonsolin actually looked great early, working around a double in the 1st and getting a clean 2nd. However, there was immediate trouble in the 3rd. Gonsolin allowed a single, walked a batter, and uncorked a wild pitch to put two in scoring position. To add to the disaster, a seemingly routine ground out to Gavin Lux was thrown away for a two-base, two-run error. A Pavin Smith single followed to tie the game at 3-3, making it four in a row to reach. From there, Gonsolin did admirably to limit the damage, getting three outs and only hitting a batter the rest of the inning.
He did bounce back nicely in the 4th, getting a 1-2-3 frame, but he was done after that in another short start: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R (2 ER), 1 B, 5 K, 75 Pitches.
From there it was the battle of the pens. The Dodgers having one of the best and the Diamondbacks one of the worst, but things remained close.
Kyle Nelson entered for the D-backs in the 5th and notched a clean frame, then Justin Bruihl matched him in the other half. Arizona gave the 6th to J.B. Wendelken, who survived a single and a walk for a scoreless frame, thanks in large part to a Justin Turner double play. For their half of the inning, Evan Phillips saw his streak of consecutive batters retired ended at 19 with a walk, but otherwise didn’t have problems.
In the 7th, Joe Mantiply entered and gave up four hard hit balls but only ended up getting charged with two singles. Cody Bellinger‘s laser to right was caught in the corner and Mookie Betts‘ liner was caught in left and resulted in a double play. Alex Vesia then cruised through the 7th for the Dodgers, emphatically getting a 1-2-3 frame.
Mantiply continued in the 8th that proved to be decisive. He allowed a bloop single and was replaced by Ian Kennedy, who got an out but then gave up a double and issued an intentional walk to load the bases. He then somehow got fly-ball happy Will Smith to hit a hard grounder for a double play to end the threat.
Meanwhile Brusdar Graterol didn’t have it tonight, issuing a four-pitch walk and then giving up a David Peralta two-run no-doubt homer to make it 5-3. No further damage, but none needed.
Mark Melancon then finished the team off in the 9th in order.
Yikes.
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The new ball sucks.
It sucks!
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12-5 on the year now, a half game behind the Giants in the NL West.
Tomorrow morning is the rubber match at 9:40 AM HT/12:40 PM PT/3:40 PM ET between Julio Urias and Zac Gallen.
