Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
This simulation had to come to this point.
Even if it doesn’t really matter, my optimism for the real life David Price does lead to a bit of grief as the virtual version goes down with a torn labrum. Should I take it this hard? Probably not, though it does rob me of taking some sort of credit for his performance in our simulated season (no matter how irrational that would have been).
But here I am, naturally the one to write the recap as Price goes down after just 2 2/3 IP, leading to a 7-5 loss by the Dodgers (27-21) on Wednesday to the Phillies (25-24).
Lasting 58 2/3 IP this season, Price hit 1.3 WAR with his 3.84 ERA and 49 strikeouts. Price struggled in the opening inning, a common theme for both sides during this series, as Bryce Harper connected on a two-run home run as part of a three-run inning.
Corey Seager continued his hot streak, driving in a run with a single as part of a two-run first to trim the Phillies lead down to 3-2. From there, both teams were shut out until Harper proved how valuable he is.
With Price done for the day, and extended future, Brusdar Graterol and Edubray Ramos kept the Dodgers out of trouble until the seventh inning. After Graterol worked two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and two walks, Ramos finished up the fifth and moved through the sixth.
With one away in the seventh, Ramos allowed one to reach base prompting Dave Robots to send in Blake Treinen. That turned out to be a disastrous decision, as he could only retire one batter before loading the bases for Harper. Naturally, that battle ended in a grand slam for Harper, who ended the day with six of his team’s seven RBIs and told the Philadelphia Chronicle Inquirer that he was “satisfied” with the win and his $330 million the Dodgers declined to offer him.
After Nick Pivetta gave up two in the first inning, he kept the Dodgers off the board for the rest of his day, finishing with four hits and four walks allowed in his five frames.
Code Bellinger did cut down the lead with his 9th homer of the year in the seventh off of Victor Arano, but it wasn’t enough. The Dodgers would add one more in the eighth, but Hector Neris closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth.
Following an off-day on Thursday, the Dodgers will start up a series against the Cleveland Indians at Dodger Stadium. Alex Wood faces Mike Clevinger, a mismatch that isn’t as drastic as I would have expected.
