Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Coming into a game that’s ungodly early for me, the Dodgers had dreams of a sweep against the Twins. However, they trailed for most of the game and the offense just couldn’t take advantage of the chances they did have. And thus, in the end the game’s result ended up being decided by a late relay in a 3-2 loss.
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Hey, remember when Chris Paddack was the hyped Padres ace of the future? I remember. Anyway, here he is with the Twins as their fifth starter.
Mookie Betts started the game with a lead-off single, Shohei Ohtani reached on a four-pitch walk, and with one down Teoscar Hernandez started the scoring with a cue-shot double down the line in right. However, Max Muncy grounded back to the pitcher and Enrique Hernandez popped to second, stranding further damage and leaving things at just 1-0.
Teoscar Hernandez annihilated a double to start the scoring for the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/V5sduj2OY4
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 10, 2024
That unfortunately proved relevant immediately as Bobby Miller took all of five pitches to surrender a lead-off homer to Edouard Julien to tie the game up at 1-1 in the 1st.
Bonjour, Eddy!
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 10, 2024
Au Revoir, Baseball! pic.twitter.com/BFStbZkkTE
Miller found himself in trouble again in the 2nd after back-to-back walks, but managed to escape without damage. No such luck after back-to-back singles started the 3rd, as a Byron Buxton single cashed in a run and made it 2-1 to the Twins. However, Miller did bounce back and get out without further mess, then faced the minimum in the 4th thanks to a double play erasing a walk.
I suppose since Miller didn’t look sharp and his pitch count was getting up there, Dave Roberts ended his day there: 4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 4 K, 73 Pitches.
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On the other end, Paddack was cruising after the initial handful of batters, striking out the side in the 2nd, and issuing just a two-out walk in the 3rd. However, the 4th started with Muncy mashing his second homer of the season to tie things up at 2-2.
Tie it up, Max! pic.twitter.com/nDD1n6BCAb
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 10, 2024
Paddack got two outs in the 5th but also gave up two singles, which knocked him out of the game. This time Muncy wasn’t able to cash a run in, as he struck out to end the threat.
On the mound for the Dodgers in the 5th was Alex Vesia for some reason, despite struggling mightily and presumably having most of the pen available. Well, for the second time today Julien left the park, smashing one oppo to give the Twins a 3-2 lead.
He likes to move it, move it all the way around the bases! pic.twitter.com/6t2oo5UQYj
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 10, 2024
After Vesia got two outs, it was Michael Grove‘s turn out of the pen. He got the final out of the inning, struck out two in the 6th as a part of a clean frame, and continued in the 7th with a scoreless inning despite a walk and stolen base.
Joe Kelly finished the game off for the Dodgers on the mound in the 8th, allowing a walk but picking a pinch-runner off to face the minimum.
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Unfortunately, the Dodgers couldn’t push another run across the plate. They ended up going down in order in the 6th after a single and caught stealing, and in the 7th they seemingly tied it after an Austin Barnes lead-off walk and a pair of groundouts led to Shohei being at first. Freddie Freeman doubled into the corner and Shohei was sent home, but a perfect relay cut him down at the plate after review.
The whole play. pic.twitter.com/xl96HfYAhg
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 10, 2024
The 8th also resulted in nothing, and after just a single in the 9th, the dreams of a sweep were over.
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Tyler Glasnow is relaxed.
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10-5, panic time!
The Dodgers have a day off tomorrow and will return home to face the Padres on Friday at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Yoshinobu Yamamoto looking to continue his successful run of starts against Michael King.
