Pitching Struggles Continue as Dodgers Lose Again to D-backs
One-hundred and six years ago today the RMS Titanic, on it’s maiden voyage, struck an iceberg in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean that would cause it to sink in less than three hours. Tonight, over a century later, the Dodgers encountered an iceberg of their own in the form of the Arizona Diamondbacks who hit them hard and fast.
The struggling World Series runners-up turned to Rich Hill hoping he could step up as the captain who would right their ship. Instead, he would be the captain who went down with tonight’s ship as he labored through 5.0 innings of work allowing 7 runs (technically, 8 but more on that later) on 7 hits while issuing 2 walks and striking out 5.
2nd Inning
The Dodgers would be the ones to strike first beginning the inning with a lead off double by Yasiel Puig. Next up would be Joc Pederson who hit a ground ball single past the diving glove of second baseman Ketel Marte that would score Puig and put the Dodgers on top 1-0. Dodger fans had a glimpse of hope. Unfortunately, that would not only be the only run of the inning, but the only run of the game.
3rd Inning
Hill looked as if he would get through three innings unscathed but issued a two-out, four-pitch walk to David Peralta that would keep the inning alive. Marte would then double to right field and score Peralta to tie the game 1-1. That would bring Paul Goldschmidt to the plate, who has been struggling recently. Unfortunately for Hill, Goldschmidt would end his funk and hit a 428-foot, two-run home run down the left field line to put the D-backs on top 3-1.
4th Inning
Hill wouldn’t fare any better in the 4th – issuing a lead off double to Chris Owings and, two batters later, a walk to Alex Avila. That would bring Deven Marrero to the dish, which is when things got, well, unusual.
Marrero would hit a deep fly ball to left-center field that would barely clear the wall. A three-run home run? No. A two-run single. Wait, what? As Marrero was jogging down to first watching to see if the ball had left the yard, he rounded the base and, though unintentional, barely passed Avila, who was returning to first base thinking the ball might be caught. Upon review, the umpires would confirm that Marrero did, in fact, pass Avila and would be called out at second base. The result of the play – a two-run single. Instead of 6-1 it was now 5-1 in favor of Arizona giving the Dodgers a “break.”
5th Inning
With two outs in the 5th, Goldschmidt would keep the inning alive with a base hit to left field. That would bring up AJ Pollock who would then hit a two-run bomb to give the Diamondbacks a 7-1 lead.
8th Inning
Pollock would strike again in the 8th with a solo home run, this time off of reliever Wilmer Font, to increase the lead 8-1. He would finish the night 2-4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBI.
9th Inning
Just for good measure, the D-backs would add another with a solo home run from Alex Avila, again off of Font, to put the game on ice with a final score of 9-1.
The Diamondbacks (11-3) have now beaten the Dodgers (4-9) in 11-consecutive regular season games and show no signs of letting up. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have allowed 33 runs in the last 3 games. Tomorrow afternoon, they will turn to their ace and their true captain, Clayton Kershaw, to “bale out” the Dodgers, end their losing streak and prevent their ship from sinking. Though it is still very early in the season, the leaky holes need to be plugged because, if left unattended, it won’t be long before the flood gates open and the Dodgers lose their chance for a champion”ship.”
BakoBoyInBlue
