Editorials

Recap: Dodgers Can’t Catch A Break, 7-Game Winning Streak Snapped

Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

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After sweeping the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers had Monday off before beginning a three-game set with their rival San Francisco Giants. Tuesday’s game marked the first meeting between the two teams on the young season.



Yasiel Puig returned to the lineup and got started on a high note with a one-out single in the first inning. However, Adrian Gonzalez lined one right to Buster Posey and it resulted in an inning-ending double play.

The Giants threatened early with a leadoff single from Nori Aoki. Howie Kendrick attempted to purposely drop a pop up from Joe Panik with hope of it leading to a double play, but only one out was called.

Aoki then easily stole second base with Angel Pagan at the plate, but Pagan grounded out to leave the man in scoring position. Posey also failed to bring Aoki home as he lined out to Kendrick.

Tim Lincecum began the second inning by issuing a four-pitch walk to Kendrick. However, it only led to another double play as Yasmani Grandal grounded to Posey to start a fielder’s choice and a second out being recorded on Kendrick being caught in a rundown. Carl Crawford hit a chopper up right to Panik to end the Dodger half of the inning.

Anderson nearly got out of the inning without any damage after Puig recorded the first two outs, including one where he ran to gap in right-center to track down an Andrew Susac fly ball. Joc Pederson dove for a Justin Maxwell fly ball but just missed the ball, which allowed Maxwell to reach third.

Maxwell then scored as Brandon Crawford laid down a drag bunt and beat the throw to first, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead headed to the third. With Pederson and Anderson on base and one out, Jimmy Rollins nearly put the Dodgers up but his fly ball got caught in the wind and died at the warning track in right field.

Pederson tagged to take third on the play and Puig was robbed of reaching base after it appeared Susac interfered with Puig’s bat on a swing attempt. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly came out to argue for catcher’s interference but to no avail. Puig proceeded to pop up for the third out.

Aoki hit a soft grounder to begin the bottom of the third and came around to score on three straight singles from Panik, Angel Pagan and Posey. Pagan’s went off the glove of a diving Kendrick, which kept Panik on second. However, he wouldn’t wait long to score as Posey followed with an RBI single to left field.

Anderson got out of the inning on a Casey McGehee ground ball to Juan Uribe, who stepped on third and threw to first for the double play.

Gonzalez drew a walk to leadoff the fourth, but was quickly erased on Kendrick’s double play, which was the Dodgers’ third of the night. Lincecum then struck out Yasmani Grandal to end the inning and the Giants still led, 2-0. Anderson found himself in trouble again with runners on second and third and just one out after giving up a double to Brandon Crawford.

CONTINUE READING: Dodgers Comeback Bid In The Ninth Falls Short

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One Comment

  1. Ugly game yesterday. Our guys were all nervous. Chippy hits all going Giants way, and all our hits barely caught by Giants. They still play great defense, so that’s why they will always be in the mix, 5-10 record not withstanding.

    It felt like a Game 1 road playoff game with all the energy in the stadium. You could see fear in our eyes and our swagger in the first few innings. Collective hopelessness. Fortunately, by the time we settled down halfway through the game, we actually got some hits and runners on base, but too little too late.

    Brett Anderson was not the best pitcher to start one of these, but there’s not much you could do with the rotation set. Hopefully it was a big learning experience for him and everyone else, and that we’ll settle down and win with Kershaw and Greinke next.

    Go Doyers!

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