Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Dodgers couldn’t get much going offensively for much of the game against lefty Justin Steele on Friday, managing only three measly hits. Nevertheless, they still found themselves in a tight one against the Chicago Cubs, trailing only 3-2 going into the 8th inning.
However, things went south in a hurry after that. Reliever Andre Jackson got mugged for four solo home runs and by the time he walked off the mound, the Dodgers were in a hole that they could never climb out of. They dropped the opener of the home stand 8-2 and fell to a middling 7-7 on the young season.
Noah Syndergaard pitched a whole lot better than his last start, but still couldn’t get that elusive first win in Dodger Blue. The Cubs got on the board first in the top of the 3rd when Ian Happ banged a run-scoring double into the right field corner. It hopped into the stands, and the Cubs had a lead that they would never relinquish. Happ would be end up being the Cub’s hitting star of the night, going 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.
However, the Dodgers wasted no time in getting right back into the game. Chris Taylor led off the bottom of the 3rd with a solo shot off Steele. CT3 took a strike and then on the second pitch of the at-bat, he drilled a misplaced slider over the left centerfield fence.
But the Cubbies came right back in the top of the next frame, and who should start the rally but our old buddy Cody Bellinger. He ripped a double into the right field corner, and then came around to score on two productive outs, much to the pleasure of little league coaches everywhere. Put the ball in play, kids. Good stuff happens.
Chicago added to the lead in the top of the 5th when Yan Gomes hijacked the first offering of the inning and deposited it among the paying customers in right field. This brought out the boo birds for Syndergaard. Thor doesn’t have any good will built up with Dodger fans right now, and it’ll take some doing before he can get back in their good graces.
Though to be fair, Syndergaard did what he could to keep the score close after that. He wiggled out of a jam in the 5th and then struck out the side in the 6th to end his night on very much an up note. Though he didn’t look fantastic in this one, compared to that steaming mound of garbage that he came up with in Arizona, it was a great improvement. Final line on Noah’s night: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 9 K.
Brusdar Graterol looked good in 7th, and when Max Muncy went yard (again!) in the bottom of the inning, it looked like the Dodgers might be on the cusp of a nice comeback win.
Then Andre Jackson happened. Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki went back to back with solid home runs, and then, after Cody Bellinger nearly made it three in a row, Patrick Wisdom completed the trifecta, putting the Cubs ahead 6-2. Yan Gomes rubbed salt in the wounds in the 9th with his second dinger of the night, this one a shot down the left field line.
It was, um, sub-optimal
Short hops
- Gotta question bringing in Jackson in a high leverage situation after an off day.
- After the game, there was talk that Jackson was tipping his pitches. You almost hope that he was, because that can be fixed. Being bad can’t.
- No Mookie. No Freddie. No offense.
- Pre-game tribute to Cody Bellinger was quite moving. He got a nice ovation with every mention of his name.
- The moment Belli stepped in the box in the second, the ump gave him a pitch clock violation. Doh! He ended up grounding going 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
- Old buddy Edwin Rios was in the starting lineup for the Cubs as well.
- Max Muncy is now tied for the MLB lead in home runs with six.
- Will Smith out of the lineup for this one. Doc said he wasn’t feeling great.
- Austin Barnes still sitting on triple zeros for a batting average.
- Dansby Swanson struck out five times in this one. Yeesh.
- WW II Vet Paul Lopez of Santa Barbara was honored at the game. 97 years young.
- Michael Grove tries to get back on the beam on Saturday. It’s going to be a 6:10 start against Cubs righty Jameson Taillon, who is still trying to get on track this year. Also, it’s going to be Jackie Robinson Day, with all that entails. Great night to be at the ballpark.
