Dodgers Starting Pitcher Walker Buehler Finds Positives After Rough Inning
Young Dodgers ace Walker Buehler made his first start of the second half on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. It came after a 12-day layoff between starts — he did appear for one inning during the All-Star Game — so the rust between outings definitely showed.
After the game, Walker spoke with SportsNet LA’s Alanna Rizzo about his outing after the long layoff.
.@buehlersdayoff reflects on his outing and giving up three homers against the Phillies. pic.twitter.com/CevH6C43yN
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 17, 2019
I think it’s [the layoff] going to affect everyone a little bit at least, and if that’s 3 inches off one way or the other, this game will change. I’m not worried going forward; just proud of our team coming back from the hole I put us in.
He served up 3 home runs to 3 different batters in the first 2 innings before settling down to throw 4 more scoreless innings. It was the first time in his career that he served up 3 home runs in a game, which he attributed to execution more than anything.
The [Scott] Kingery one I made the pitch I wanted to – just not quite up and in enough. Hung an 0-2 breaking ball, which you can’t do to a guy like [Brad] Miller. And then [Bryce] Harper hit a middle-middle fastball.
Some of them you wish you were in better counts, but two of them I was ahead. So, just not good enough.
Of the 6 runs he allowed, however, only 2 were earned after misplays in the second inning undid the Dodgers early on.
After the Harper homer, he retired 8 in a row, and 13 of 15 while working around only one walk and a Corey Seager error.
The Comeback
In the game, the Dodgers nibbled away at the deficit before a rain delay set the stage for lightning off the bat of Matt Beaty who connected on a pinch-hit 3-run go ahead home run in the top of the ninth.
BEATY BEATY BOMB BOMB. pic.twitter.com/49yW4Dx9Bm
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 17, 2019
Unfortunately, Kenley Jansen took a line drive off his right ankle and stayed in the game when he probably shouldn’t have only to surrender the lead and the game in the bottom of the ninth.
