Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Bobby Miller returned and brought the rest of his 2024 along with him, laboring through less than five innings and technically lowering his ERA, though that’s more of an indictment of his season than anything else. Meanwhile, outside of a Shohei Ohtani induced rally in the 1st and his homer in the 5th, the Dodgers weren’t able to get anything going in a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals.
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Thing started off well against Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, as the Dodgers manufactured a run behind Ohtani. He started the game with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a fly to left, and then scored on a Freddie Freeman single that got past the drawn-in infield to make it 1-0.
Freddie drives in Ohtani, and the Dodgers are on the board! pic.twitter.com/ONBYx8wfbq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 17, 2024
That lead didn’t last long, as Miller continued to struggle in 2024. Despite getting a great play from Mookie Betts to start his outing…
MOOKIE BETTS MAKES YET ANOTHER DAZZLING PLAY pic.twitter.com/bWCqXJ3nch
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 17, 2024
…he then surrendered a single, stolen base, uncorked a wild pitch, and gave up a Willson Contreras single to tie things at 1-1.
No one caught this baseball!#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/pTvW0P0qGf
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
The Cards then took the lead in the 3rd behind a single and an Alec Burleson homer to put the Cards up 3-1.
Alec Burleson claims the lead for the Cardinals with a 2-run shot! pic.twitter.com/wbYBVDyg9G
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 18, 2024
Things could’ve got worse in the 4th if it wasn’t for Gavin Lux making a nice defensive play to save a run for Miller.
Gavin Lux saves a run on D. pic.twitter.com/1U2SbjntI9
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 18, 2024
The Dodger bats had been quiet for three innings, but in the 5th they were jolted awake by Ohtani’s 38th dong of the year to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Shohei Ohtani goes deep for the 38th time this season! pic.twitter.com/27paVWScWU
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 18, 2024
No worries, though. Miller didn’t allow that to last long as he immediately gave up a homer to Masyn Winn to make the lead two again at 4-2.
Masyn Winn sends one JUST over the glove of Kevin Kiermaier to extend the Cardinals' lead! pic.twitter.com/BFBR4idj2U
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 18, 2024
He got two outs after that and gave up a single, which eventually led Dave Roberts to come get him. Miller continued to struggle with command and looked mediocre at best: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 91 Pitches.
Ryan Brasier did at least get the final out of the 5th, then continued in the 6th by cruising through a five-pitch inning. Brent Honeywell Jr. was next up in the 7th, allowing a two-out single and walk, but escaping without further mess. He then gave up a solo homer to Nolan Arenado in the 8th to make it 5-2 to the Cardinals.
Nado CRUSHED. pic.twitter.com/vQOBlpGGzx
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 18, 2024
Didn’t matter, as the Dodgers offense did nothing over the final four innings and went down quietly. A familiar story.
Oh yeah, Freeman got hurt as well.
I mean it could be broken. https://t.co/P2VLoRsxdd
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 18, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 72-52 |
| Padres | 69-54 (2.5 GB)* |
| Diamondbacks | 69-55 (3 GB) |
*Currently playing.
The series finale will happen on a getaway day, which means it’ll be at the ungodly hour of 8:15 AM HT/11:15 AM PT/2:15 PM ET. It’ll be Clayton Kershaw facing off against Sonny Gray.
