Dodgers Recap: Angels Walk-off Dodgers as LA’s Division Lead Disappears Completely

Anaheim, CA — It was just 40 days ago that the Dodgers held a nine-game lead over the Padres in the National League West. Los Angeles appeared well on their way to win another division title, earn a bye, and host the NLDS at home for the third consecutive season.

Now, their lead has vanished into thin air.

Since the Fourth of July, the Dodgers have gone an absymal 12-20, the latest loss coming in their walkoff defeat against the Angels tonight. It was a day that, well, featured pretty much everything that’s defined the Dodgers’ season so far up to this point, a season filled with injuries and missed opportunities.

Before first pitch, the Dodgers were again hit with the injury bug. Right-handed reliever Brock Stewart, who was the only real trade deadline acquisition the Dodgers made outside of a bench piece in Alex Call, was placed on the IL with right-shoulder inflammation. Dave Roberts said he’s expected back before the end of the season, but since Stewart has yet to undergo tests, it’d be wise to take the skipper’s diagnosis with a grain (or more) of salt. In Stewart’s place, right-hander Edgardo Henriquez was recalled.

The Dodgers actually got out to a first-inning lead in this game, which has felt like a rarity more and more as this season has progressed. Teoscar Hernandez, who came into tonight’s contest batting .167 (10-60) with runners in scoring position this season, lined a ball over the head of Angels shortstop Zach Neto to give the Dodgers a 1-0 advantage. But the threat of any further damage was quickly thwarted when Max Muncy lined a ball to Nolan Schanuel, and Hernandez was doubled off.

But unfortunately for Los Angeles, their starting pitcher tonight couldn’t hold the lead. Emmet Sheehan, who’s pitched relatively well this year despite limited action, got Neto to groundout to Mookie Betts to begin the game. But he allowed the next four hitters to reach base, with a walk, two singles, and a double. A Jo Adell RBI groundout made it 3-1 Angels.

But the Dodgers struck back in the second inning. After Andy Pages flew out to center field and Michael Conforto struck out, Alex Freeland drew a walk and Dalton Rushing, who has been struggling mightily in his backup catcher role since being called up a few months ago, launched his second home run of the season to right field, a two-run shot. (It was his first home run that was not against a position player).

The score would remain knotted at 3-3 until Dodger killer Taylor Ward took Sheehan deep in the third. It was Ward’s 28th home run of the season, a 413-foot moonshot to center field, and it gave the Angels the lead back. They would tack on an inning later when Bryce Teodosio crunched an RBI double to left field on a ball that Michael Conforto didn’t exactly scramble to get to, and his relay was not in time. It was yet another disappointing night for Conforto both in the field and at the plate. By the time he was pinch-hit for by Call in the 8th, Conforto had struck out twice, including once with the bases loaded, and grounded into a double play. The lefty outfielder, who had a decent two-week stretch at the end of July, is now 3 for 31 in the month of August.

Despite being down 5-3, however, the Dodgers would rally to tie the game again. Three straight singles and two straight walks tied the game for the Dodgers in the fifth, but with two outs and the bases loaded, Ryan Zeferjahn struck out Conforto to keep the score tied.

In the sixth, however, the Dodgers were posied to take their first lead since the opening frame. Both Miguel Rojas and Dalton Rushing singled, and Shohei Ohtani lined a ball up the middle that was heading for center field. But out of nowhere, Zach Neto sprinted in to catch the line drive, tag second base to double off Rojas, and throw to first base to triple off Rushing, who was down on the ground in pain after the play. It’s the second straight season the Dodgers have hit into a triple play, and both times, Miguel Rojas has been involved. Rushing would eventually walk off on his own power and stay in the game to catch, but he would be pinch-hit for by Will Smith in the eighth.

It stayed 5-5 all the way until the 9th inning, when Shohei Ohtani came to the plate against Kenley Jansen. And on a 1-0 cutter, Ohtani launched a ball into the right-field seats for a massive go-ahead home run to put his team up 6-5. It’s Ohtani’s fourth straight game with a home run, and his 43rd of the year. He is the first player to both hit into a triple play and homer in the same game since… his teammate, Freddie Freeman.

Alex Vesia came on for the 9th inning. Despite being the Dodgers’ most reliable reliever all year, he’s had a rough couple of last outings. He was hit hard by the Cardinals last Wednesday in the eighth inning as St. Louis took the series, and he gave up what was a game-winning home run to Ernie Clement last Sunday against Toronto. He’d fare no better tonight. Luis Rengifo singled to center before Logan O’Hoppe worked an impressive eight-pitch at-bat. After a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk, Schanuel tied the game with a sacrific fly to center field. Vesia, who was inexplicably left in the ballgame to face Mike Trout with Ben Casparius warming, walked the four-time MVP. Casparius would then come on, and after falling behind Ward 3-0, come back to strike him out and send the game to extras.

And on the mound for the Angels in the top of the tenth was Connor Brogdon. A Dodger reject from earlier this season, the crafty right-hander got his revenge. He struck out Max Muncy on some nasty changeups, induced a weak fly ball from Andy Pages, and got Alex Call, who’s Dodgers tenure has been unproductive, to say the least, to pop out to first base.

Lastly, the finale. Christian Moore reached on a bunt base hit that Will Smith (not his fault, really) let die on the chalked foul line, and Adell walked it off with a Baltimore chop over the left-side of the Dodgers’ drawn-in infield. It marked the Angels’ fifth straight win against the Dodgers this season, and they’ll go for the series and season sweep tomorrow against their old pal, Shohei Ohtani.

For the Dodgers, it’s yet another frustrating loss, and if they want to repeat in the NL West and the World Series, it’s time to flip the switch. Like, now. The Padres, who are 13-3 in their last sixteen games, are now tied with the Dodgers for the lead in the division. (It’s the latest the Padres have been tied or are in first place in the division this late in the season since 2010). The Padres’ offense right now is better than the Dodgers, their starting pitching is just as good as the Dodgers, and their bullpen legitimately has five guys in Mason Miller, Robert Suarez, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and Jason Adam that would be, far and away, Los Angeles’ best reliever and closer this season. The Dodgers, seemingly, always find a way to get the last laugh over San Diego. But it appears the tides may have turned. Los Angeles has one more contest with the Angels tomorrow night before starting a crucial three-game set with the Padres on Friday. The two division foes will face off six times in the coming week and a half. The Dodgers, truthfully, are out of time. It’s now or never.

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