Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a peaceful day off, it was back to the road trip, where the Dodgers started the series against the Rays by giving them a free win in the form of a Noah Syndergaard start. Quite frankly, I was surprised the damage wasn’t even worse and that they only lost 9-3.
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As one probably could’ve assumed from the matchup, “Thor” gave up a lot of runs to the Rays. However, at least he got length and actually had the longest start by a pitcher for the Dodgers since May 13.
Of course, the problem is he basically threw the Rays batting practice early on and was quite fortunate to only give up four runs in the first two frames.
The run in the 3rd was almost funny, as a two-out single by Taylor Walls was turned into a triple with steals on consecutive pitches, and Christian Bethancourt drove him in with a single.
The final run he gave up was a Yandy Diaz dong, which was a long time coming in this game.
I mean I assume every game he starts is a loss, but this could’ve been worse from a pen perspective: 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 94 Pitches.
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Meanwhile, the Rays basically had a pen day, and the Dodgers had chances to get back into things but couldn’t capitalize.
The 1st was a prime example of this, as the first three batters reached in the form of a Mookie Betts walk, Freddie Freeman single, and Will Smith single for an RBI. However, three outs followed as they couldn’t even manufacture another.
After getting just a single in the 2nd, it was the same story in the 3rd. Back-to-back walks started the inning and J.D. Martinez singled to plate another run, but three outs followed for no further damage.
After just a walk in the 4th, they stranded a pair of one-out singles in the 5th, a two-out single and passed ball in the 6th, and a two-out hit-by-pitch and single in the 7th.
A common theme in these struggles is the rally ending with the bottom half of the order, mainly cause those guys are struggling right now.
Not an ideal run, obviously.
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For the Dodgers pen, it was Justin Bruihl out there first, and his struggles over the last few outings continued. He allowed a walk, stolen base, and an RBI single to make it 7-2, but after hitting a batter to put a pair on, he managed to get bailed out of the inning with a Chris Taylor started double play in left, his second amazing effort in as many innings.
Chris Taylor makes nearly identical leaping catches against the wall in consecutive innings. pic.twitter.com/iDQKHtMv4C
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
So did Brandon Lowe. pic.twitter.com/PJKWzLVmpC https://t.co/k8XkofpGTJ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
The Dodgers did get a run back in the 8th behind a lead-off walk from Miguel Vargas that advanced to second on a wild pitch and was scored on a Taylor double to make it 7-3, but that was all they got.
Bruihl continued his sacrificial lamb duty in the 8th, allowing a double and then a homer to Jose Siri to make it 9-3.
A double and a single followed, but further damage was avoided thanks to Betts’ arm in right.
Well at least the outfield defense has been fun. Mookie Betts cuts down a run at the plate. pic.twitter.com/v2u8bqfct6
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
Kinda feel sorry for Bruihl, who is still great in his role but has to basically eat pen innings instead.
After the Dodgers went down quietly in the 9th, the game mercifully ended.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 31-21 |
| Diamondbacks | 29-21 (1 GB)* |
*Either still playing or will play later.
Tomorrow is a fun one that starts at 10:10 AM HT/1:10 PM PT/4:10 PM ET, as it’s Clayton Kershaw (2.98 ERA/3.33 xERA/3.54 DRA) against Tyler Glasnow, who is making his season debut.
