Crucial 8th inning sinks Dodgers in loss to Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — In these games against the Giants, it’s going to be the little things that will end up being the difference: a missed cut-off man, a popped-up bunt attempt, an errant throw. Monday’s series opener at Oracle Park was no different. Tied 1-1 after seven innings, the Dodgers were unable to capitalize on a prime scoring opportunity in their half of the eighth. On the other hand, the Giants took advantage of a couple of walks and a weird play to score the winning run in a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers.

Crucial series starts off with quality pitching on both sides

Entering the game trailing the Giants by two games in the the NL West standings, the Dodgers knew full well that their head-to-head opportunities against their in-state rivals were slipping away. After this three-gamer, there is only one series against the Giants left on the schedule for the rest of the year. So obviously, each of the remaining games takes on a huge significance.

This one ended up being a classic pitchers’ duel. Logan Webb for the Giants was sharp, but Julio Urias matched him pitch for pitch over the first five innings of the ball game. The Dodgers broke through the scoreless tie first, with a run-scoring single from Billy McKinney in the top of the fifth. The gapper off McKinney’s bat scored a somewhat hobbled Cody Bellinger, who took it verrrry easy rounding the bases with the game’s first run. Because of his hammy injury, Bellinger was put in the game at first on Monday night, a decision that would come into to play later in the game.

Urias is strong, but gives up one in the 6th

On the other hand, Urias pitched into the sixth without giving up a run, and not really being challenged that much. However, in the bottom of the sixth, he ran out of gas a bit. After a strikeout of Mike Tauchman, Urias gave up a double down the left field line to Austin Slater, which brought up Dodgers’ nemesis Buster Posey with a chance to tie the ball game. Which he did, because of course. He hit a sharp single to center, and the game was knotted at one apiece. Urias retired one more batter before Brusdar Graterol was brought in to get the final out of the inning. Still, it was another solid start for Urias: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER 5 K.

Dodgers squander scoring chance in the 8th

After a scoreless seventh on both sides of the ledger, the Dodgers had a great chance to put a couple on the board in the top of the eighth. Luke Raley led off with a solid single to left. Then, Zach McKinstry struck out on what should have been ball four from reliever Tyler Rogers. The next hitter up was Chris Taylor, and as has been his habit of late, he did not disappoint. He ripped a solid double off the base of the wall, but because Raley had to hold up to see if the ball would be caught, he wasn’t able to score on the play. Still, men on second and third with one out is a situation that any team would welcome, especially one that had Max Muncy and Justin Turner headed to the plate.

But it was not to be. Muncy hit a ball sharply to the first baseman, which allowed Raley to be thrown out at home on the contact play for the second out. Then, Turner battled in his at-bat, but in the end flew out to right to end the Dodgers’ threat.

Walks and error lead to Giants run

The bottom of the eighth inning was unfortunate in almost every way. First, reliever Blake Treinen had Buster Posey on the ropes 0-2, but then lost him to a lead-off walk. To make matters worse, the Dodgers’ righty walked Mike Yastrzemski to put two men on and nobody out. Ugh.

Things went from bad to worse on the very next play. In one of the weirdest plays of the year, 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.

And that was it. The Dodgers got two hits in the top of the eighth, but failed to score. The Giants got zero hits in the bottom of the same inning, but managed to push a run across. And that was the difference in the ball game. The Dodgers went quietly in the top of the ninth, and now find themselves in a three-game hole in the divisional standings.

Dodgers now trail Giants by three games

Another game lost in the late innings. Another chance to gain ground on the Giants literally thrown away. Walker Buehler will try to right the ship on Wednesday when he faces Anthony DeSclafani in the second game of the series. Let’s see if the Dodgers bring their bats to this one.