Steve Webb
Buehler Seeing Reds, but Dodgers drop another tight one to Cincy
The middle game of the three-game series had Walker Buehler started for the home team facing the Reds’ Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman is getting off to a good start with a 2-1 record this season, his last game only allowing one earned run against the Diamondbacks. Buehler in his last start had struck out nine Padres over seven innings in a no decision and was itching to stop the Dodger losing streak. Buehler would give up an early lead, and though the Dodgers charged back in the middle innings, they were once again unable to hold a lead. They lose tonight’s contest 6-5.
Early Innings
After surrendering a leadoff home run to the Reds Jesse Winkler, Buehler peppered the strike zone, and sat down the side. Could he strike out another 24 in a row? The Dodgers offence was coming up empty early on. Maybe we should have less focus on the Dodger Dog conspiracy? Who needs a Dog when we can pitch our way to Burgers?
Hoffman, on the other hand, was keeping the Dodgers hitless through three and a lead of 1-0.
Finding a Pulse on Offense
The Dodgers home half of the fourth started with two more walks. Justin Turner and Max Muncy reaching base for catcher Will Smith. Smith took the Dodger offense on his shoulders, smashing a Hoffman offering to deep left center. The Dodgers at this point had only one hit, but led the game 3-1.
Middle Inning See-Saw Contest
After Will Smith gave the Dodgers the lead, Walker Buehler ran into a wall in the 5th. After hitting a batter, former Dodger, Kyle Farmer took a ball deep of the outfield fence for a double and the Reds were knocking on the door. With two on, Hoffman was pulled for pinch hitter Tyler Stephenson. He grounded out to Seager but in doing so plated Tucker Barnhart. Then offensive juggernaut Jesse Winkler tied the game with another hit, this time a single to Betts.
The Reds’ sixth inning started off with the first two fly ball outs. The next ball hit towards Matt Beaty was misplayed falling in for a hit. The inning closed out as Alex Blandino was awarded the Sombrero by Beuhler to end the inning. Walker was up to nine punch outs against the Reds in only six innings. Burgers on the horizon????
The home half of the sixth, had former Dodger Jose De Leon, plunk Smith on the protective arm guard. Then Chris Taylor collected the third Dodger hit of the night with a double on a sharp liner to Winkler. With the two runners in scoring position, Gavin Lux swung through a pitch for the first out of the inning. Matt Beaty tugged an outside pitch through the gap between first and second to score Smith easily. The fleet-footed Chris Taylor broke on contact from second and came home with an awkward head first slide and the lead. Dodgers up 5-3.
The Beaty hit kept Walker Buehler in the game to hit for himself. After the strikeout of Buehler, Mookie Betts walked and there were two Dodgers on for Corey Seager. Seager, who had a quite night at the plate on his birthday, patiently took the seventh Dodger walk to load the bases. Up next, Justin Turner weakly grounded into the last out, leaving the bases loaded. Opportunity lost. Nine outs away from a victory. Dodger die hard questioning “How long could Buehler go?”
Burger for you and you and you….
The Reds had a leadoff double in the top of the 7th inning. Next batter Farmer, took a Buehler curve to left center and the lead was cut to 5-4. Walker was up to 92 pitches and one out. He struck out Eugene Suarez on just 4 pitches. It would be the tenth batter to strike out on the night. Burgers on Buehler!!!!
Dave Roberts brought out the hook and the pen door opened for Scott Alexander. With a Reds runner on first, Scott induced a ground ball hit towards the gap. The grounder destined for the outfield grass was smothered by the outstretched glove of Justin Turner. After the belly flop, JT flipped the ball to Seager and he threw to first and just missed the tail end of a double play. That proved costly. A single by Castellanos gave the Reds two runners on for Joey Votto, who then connected to put Cincinnati on top. Votto doubled on a drive to Mookie Betts, Reds 6 Dodgers 5 after the 7th.
Slumping Rios
Rios who was on deck for Buehler in the sixth inning was pulled back after the Beaty RBI double. He finally pinch hit for Dennis Santana in the home half of the eighth. Rios continued his 0 for 23 hitless streak with a five pitch strikeout. We all had visions of him taking over at “The hot corner” for Turner in the off season? Seams like years ago!
Last Chance
The Dodgers’ pen managed to keep the Reds in check. Jimmy Nelson gave up a hit to Jesse Winkler in the ninth. Winkler was stranded at third base when Nelson had Nick Castellanos whiffing at outside sliders, Reds holding onto a 6-5 lead.
The heart of the Dodger line-up, Seager, Turner, Muncy and Dodger fans collectively holding their breath facing Sean Doolittle in the ninth. Seager going 0 for 4 on his 27th Birthday and one away. Turner called out on an outside strike… two gone. Muncy the last gasp at bat and lefty lefty match up. Muncy also only 1 for 24 popped out to end the game.
Starters for Wednesday
Clayton Kershaw (3-2, 2.56 ERA) will try and stop the streaking Reds Sonny Gray (0-0, 7.88 ERA) Please note its an early 1:10PM start time.
Let’s end this series off right with a win by Kershaw…. all together: “Let’s Go Dodgers”
