Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers failed to keep their winning streak going, dropping their first game in St. Louis. Most of the bullpen put forth a valiant effort after an injury forced them into action in the second inning, but the bats went quiet and the Dodgers scored fewer than four runs for only the second time in 2018.
——
The Dodgers struck in the first inning, after Joc Pederson led off and got hit by a pitch. Corey Seager hit a line drive to put runners on the corners, and Cody Bellinger bounced into a fielders’ choice to drive in Pederson. A.J. Pollock followed that up with a double to left to plate Bellinger and put the Dodgers up 2-0 before Hyun-Jin Ryu had to throw a pitch.
The lead didn’t last long, as Brim caused Ryu to issue his first walk of the season in the first inning.
Ryu walked Paul Goldschmidt, which is a pretty decent outcome when facing Goldy. However, two batters later he allowed a game-tying homer to Marcell Ozuna. Ryu struggled through the first inning and was pulled after recording two outs in the second, leaving the game with a trainer. Dylan Floro recorded the final out of the inning.
Not great news, as that left groin forced Ryu to miss three months in 2018. It didn’t *look* like he completely tore his groin off the bone like he did last season, so hopefully he’s back sooner than that.
While Miles Mikolas settled in and retired 12 consecutive batters following Pollock’s first inning double, Floro gave the Dodgers some much-needed length. He retired each of the 10 batters he faced, with some help on a diving catch by Pollock.
Mikolas’ streak snapped in the fifth inning, when he hit Russell Martin with a pitch. He hit Pederson for the second time in the game to move Martin to second, and Seager singled to make it 3-2.
Scott Alexander was next up out of the bullpen, and he retired the Cardinals in order in the fifth on only 10 pitches. He remained in to start the sixth, but was pulled after a leadoff single.
Joe Kelly relieved Alexander and his struggles continued. He walked Goldschmidt and fell behind Jose Martinez, who knocked a single to tie the game. Kelly got a double play, but it moved Goldy to third and he scored on a wild pitch.
Pedro Baez needed eight pitches for a scoreless seventh inning. He stayed in for the eighth and tossed another 1-2-3.
However, the bats went mostly quiet after the fifth inning. They threatened in the sixth inning after Max Muncy singled and Enrique Hernandez doubled. However, Martin flew out for the second out of the inning, and Hernandez seemingly forgot how many outs there were once again. He was doubled off, and the Dodgers failed to get a runner to second for the remainder of the game.
Jordan Hicks is ridiculous.
——
The Dodgers fall to 8-3, which is still quite good.
The loss is annoying, but even worse might be Ryu’s injury. The Dodger bullpen (minus Kelly) was good and mostly efficient. Floro made 26 pitches and Baez made 20 pitches, but they only used four bullpen arms. Either way, they’ll need a solid start tomorrow. Ross Stripling is tasked with giving the bullpen a little breather, as he’ll take on Dakota Hudson.
