Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a day off, a series involving two teams with some of the best records in baseball kicked off, and most of the scoring happened in the first three frames, as they exchanged early runs. Unfortunately, the Orioles did the last damage with a go-ahead homer in the 5th, and the Dodgers offense couldn’t find a way to put another run on the board after the 3rd in a 3-2 loss.
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Jack Flaherty started well, getting a clean 1st, but a Ryan O’Hearn homer gave the Orioles an early lead in the 2nd.
Ryan O’Homer pic.twitter.com/8vxp136hc0
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 28, 2024
Opposing him was Cole Irvin, who faced the minimum in the 1st thanks to a double play, but then gave up a triple to Tommy Edman with one out in the 2nd (more like a double plus a Colton Cowser adventure), which Miguel Rojas cashed in with a sac fly to tie things at 1-1.
In the next frame, the Dodgers rode a two-out rally to the lead, as Shohei Ohtani singled, Mookie Betts drew a walk, and then Teoscar Hernandez singled to make it 2-1.
Dodgers take the lead with a two-out rally of Ohtani single, Betts walk, and Teoscar single. pic.twitter.com/bR05W5hk1r
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 28, 2024
Flaherty worked around a two-out walk and single in the 3rd, then struck out the side in the 4th, but the long ball continued to be a problem in the 5th. A single was followed by a Ramon Urias homer to give the Orioles a 3-2 lead just like that.
Ramón is getting it done. pic.twitter.com/8kJ8vyNMIE
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 28, 2024
To add insult to injury, he was hit on the wrist by a comebacker, causing some concern but staying in the game. Flaherty continued in the 6th and dug deep after giving up a single, wild pitch, and walk to start the frame. He rebounded with a fly out, strikeout, and got a nice play by Teoscar in left on a foul out to keep the deficit to one.
Every game it’s basically just the homers: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 99 Pitches.
Relieving him was Alex Vesia in the 7th, who had to labor through a scoreless frame, issuing a couple of walks in his 25 pitches but giving up no runs. Ryan Brasier got the 8th, continuing his run of success after his return, giving up just a single in a scoreless frame. Michael Kopech then kept it a one-run game in the 9th, issuing just a walk and wild pitch while putting up his zero.
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As this was happening, Irvin got a clean 4th, but then gave up a double and issued a walk to the bottom of the order to start the 5th. But the heart of the order went down with a pair of pop-ups and a fly out (Irvin only got the first out), wasting a prime chance.
They then did nothing in both the 6th and 7th, but had a chance in the 8th after a single and stolen base with one out. However, that led to nothing with some help from the umpire.
Sigh. pic.twitter.com/8atmFWyM89
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 28, 2024
After another questionable strike three call to start the 9th, a one-out single and then two-out walk provided some hope, but the save was secured on a lineout.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 78-54 |
| Diamondbacks | 75-57 (3 GB) |
| Padres | 76-58 (3 GB) |
*Currently playing.
Same teams, same place, and same time tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM Et with Walker Buehler looking to get anything at all going against Corbin Burnes.
