Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Going into the final week of the season, the Dodgers are still chasing the Giants in the NL West standings. In fact, on Sunday morning, the Dodgers’ chances of overtaking San Francisco dropped to 18.9 percent on FanGraphs. If indeed, the eight-year streak of division titles is broken this year (I’m still not conceding anything), the Dodgers will have plenty of moments to look back on during the regular season series between these two teams that could have gone very differently, and the Dodgers could be safely in first place right now. Of course I know that all this “coulda, woulda, shoulda” talk is not going to change anything, but indulge me anyway.
1. May 28: Dodgers lose 8-5 in 10
Tauchman robs Pujols walk-off
Things had been going so well up to this point. The Dodgers had gone into San Francisco and basically punched the Giants in the mouth, sweeping a three-game series earlier in May. Then, they’d won the first game of the season series in Los Angeles.
After those four straight wins, the Dodgers and Giants engaged in an epic battle. Buster Posey broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run home run in the eighth. And then, Austin Barnes answered back with a three-run job of his own in the bottom of the ninth. Then, the newly acquired Albert Pujols stepped to the plate and took Tyler Rogers deeeeep to left field. Outfielder Mike Tauchman scaled the fence and brought back the potential-game-winning home run. The Dodgers would lose the game in the tenth, and the team’s struggles with the Giants had just begun.
2. July 21: Dodgers lose 4-2
Kenley blows a save
This one was a low scoring affair until the ninth inning, thanks to a great pitchers’ duel between Logan Webb and Julio Urias. But the Dodgers had gotten a solo home run from Chris Taylor in the first, and then a run-scoring double from AJ Pollock in the fourth, but that was it. So, they went into the bottom of the ninth, clinging to a 2-1 lead. Kenley Jansen came on for the save, but before even recording an out, he’d given up a single to Buster Posey and a two-run homer to Wilmer Flores. The Giants got one more before the ninth was over, and went quietly in the ninth.
3. July 22: Dodgers lose 5-3
Darin Ruf went around!
This one was even more painful than the night before. Yes, it was Kenley Jansen’s second blown save in as many nights, but this one goes just as much on the umps. In this one, first base umpire Ed Hickox refused to give Kenley the call on what was clearly a game-ending check swing strikeout. Instead, the tying run was walked home and LaMonte Wade Jr. hit the game-winning single a couple of batters later. Dave Roberts did get his money’s worth screaming at Hickox before getting tossed, so at least that was entertaining.
4. July 27: Dodgers lose 2-1
Belli airmails throw to third in the eighth
In this one, it was a throwing error that lead to the winning run. After Blake Treinen had walked the first two Giants in the bottom of the eighth, Darren Ruf hit a ground ball to Max Muncy at second. Muncy started to run toward first to tag the runner, but when Yastrzemski retreated toward the first base bag, Max threw to Cody Bellinger at first to record an out on the hitter.
Bellinger thought about going to second base for an out, but saw that Posey was headed for third on the play. Trying to cut down the lead runner, Bellinger decided to go to third instead. Unfortunately, just as he was about to whip the ball across the diamond, Max Muncy stepped in his line of sight, causing Belli to airmail the throw to Justin Turner, and allowing the Giants’ second run to score. The Dodgers went quietly in the ninth, and lost another game they could have won.
5. Sept. 3: Dodgers lose 3-2 in 11
Trea’s bad throw pulls Smith off the bag
Another painful throwing error late in a game costs the Dodgers a chance at victory. In the first game of the final series of the year, it was another great pitching match-up between the Dodgers’ bullpen and Anthony DeSclafani of the Giants. As they’ve been so often, the Dodgers’ pen was great, starting with Corey Knebel as the opener. Doc used nine pitchers through regulation, and had completely emptied his pen to the point that he had to use recent call-up Andrew Vasquez in the tenth and little-used Evan Phillips in the eleventh.
Phillips walked a couple of guys in the the eleventh to load the bases, but after a force out at home, he was within one out of sending the game to the 12th inning. He got what looked like a pretty routine bouncer to second that Trea Turner fielded cleanly, but his throw pulled inexperienced first baseman Will Smith off the bag. The call on the field was challenged, but was upheld on appeal. The Dodgers had lost yet another close one to the hated Giants.
Close but no cigar
Of course, every team can point to games along the way that slipped out of their grasp. It’s bound to happen over a 162-game season. But to think that the Dodgers would be in first place right now if they’d even won two of these five games is a bitter pill indeed.
