Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Well, that sucked, huh?
After a 6-5 loss the Dodgers will need a win tomorrow to not get swept by the Reds, a team who came into the series on a seven-game losing streak.
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Walker Buehler started for the Dodgers, and he has achieved good results despite not quite looking like his tip-top self yet. But things started ominously for him tonight as well, as he surrendered a homer to lead-off man Jesse Winker to make it 1-0 on the first pitch of the game.
The bats continued their struggles early on, getting two walks in the 1st against Jeff Hoffman but not cashing in. They then went silent for the next two frames before coming alive in the 4th. After Justin Turner and Max Muncy started by drawing back-to-back walks, Will Smith finally got the Dodgers a big blow with a three-run shot for a 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately Buehler wasn’t at his best again and the results showed this time. While he got out of the 4th after giving up a double and a walk, he did not manage to maintain the lead in the 5th. Buehler hit the lead-off batter, then allowed a double, and two runs crossed on a ground out and a single to tie things before he could get out of it. 3-3.
Old friend Jose De Leon relieved Hoffman in the 5th and got the side, but the bats did thankfully show life again in the 6th, as they followed the Reds’ blueprint with Smith getting hit by the pitch and Chris Taylor doubling. With one down against a drawn-in infield, Matt Beaty got a seeing-eyed single to drive in two and make it 5-3.
Hilariously, they still failed in the inning, as a walk led to Ryan Hendrix replacing De Leon, and he immediately issued another walk to load the bases but the Dodgers were unable to capitalize again.
Buehler was allowed to continue in the 7th, since the Dodgers basically have no bullpen left, and it didn’t go well. He gave up a double and a single to start to make it 5-4, and then recorded an out that was his last. He missed a lot of bats but his line was pretty ugly: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 96 Pitches.
Scott Alexander, horrifically probably the best pitcher the Dodgers have in the pen right now, entered and got an out on an amazing play by Turner. However, he then allowed a single and a bases-clearing double to Joey Votto for two runs and a 6-5 game.
Alexander got out of the 7th and was allowed to continue in the 8th, getting an out before being relieved. Dennis Santana entered and got two outs to retire the side in order. Jimmy Nelson entered for the 9th, allowing a double and a wild pitch but not allowing a run.
Didn’t matter, as Carson Fulmer, Heath Hembree, and Sean Doolittle carved the lineup up in the last three innings.
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Security guard, whatever.
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The Dodgers are now 15-9.
On getaway day tomorrow the series will start at 10:10 AM HST/1:10 PM PST/4:10 PM EST. Clayton Kershaw will face Sonny Gray to avoid the sweep.
