Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Returning home for a confusing three-game homestand before going back to the East Coast, the Dodgers laid an egg to start the series against the Rockies. They got down early and only really threatening in the game once in a 4-1 loss.
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Looking to add another quality start to his comeback, Walker Buehler got into immediate trouble. The first two batters singled, and he later issued a walk to load the bases with one out. However, he managed to keep the zero on the board as he struck out three batters in the inning to escape.
Walker Buehler strikes out three to escape trouble in the 1st and it pumped up. pic.twitter.com/ENoTG46Rm5
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 1, 2024
After facing the minimum in the 2nd following a walk being erased by a double play, disaster struck in the 3rd, both for Buehler and the Dodgers defense. A “single” got by Miguel Rojas at third, Buehler issued a walk, and Kris Bryant came through with a two-out single for a run. Brendan Rodgers followed with a single to center, which got under the glove of Andy Pages for a two-base error to plate two runs and make it 3-0.
Good things come in 3⃣s pic.twitter.com/rq8uq81G43
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 1, 2024
Buehler also gave up a homer to Ezequiel Tovar in the 4th, but somehow still managed to get through six innings: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 7 K, 92 Pitches.
Buehler clearly not sharp, but aside from a play Rojas usually makes and Pages' boner, the results should be fine enough for this offense. SHOULD.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 1, 2024
Out of the pen first was Anthony Banda in the 7th, who issued an early walk but faced the minimum as Will Smith added to his CS% lead by throwing out a steal attempt. Cult hero (for those who are based) Yohan Ramirez entered in the 8th and continued to be effective, getting three routine groundouts. He continued in the 9th, walking a batter but then picking him off, but allowed a triple with two outs. That brought in Alex Vesia, who had to throw just one pitch to close the book on the Rockies.
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Guess it didn’t matter as Dakota Hudson was on the mound for the Rockies. The Dodgers turned him into Greg Maddux or something, managing just two-out singles in the 3rd and 4th, and an infield single in the 5th.
In the 8th, Gavin Lux doubled and Rojas waked to finally knock Hudson out. Against the pen, Pages singled to load the bases, and the Dodgers seemed to be cooking. However, Mookie Betts grounded into a double play, which scored a run but obviously was what the Rockies wanted. After a Shohei Ohtani walk to put the tying run at the plate, Freddie Freeman struck out to end the threat. 4-1.
Bottom of the order is now the strong part of the lineup, tragedy about the top. Need more MVPs.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 1, 2024
Nothing happening in the 9th, as the Dodgers went down quietly for the loss.
Yikes.
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36-23, and the standings table will start tomorrow.
Speaking of tomorrow, it’ll be the same teams at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will face off against Cal Quantrill.
