Steve Webb
ST. LOUIS, MO. — LOB. Left. On. Base. Are there any sadder letters in sports than LOB? I think not. And the Dodgers learned that the hard way on Tuesday evening in St. Louis. After falling into a deep pit for the second straight game, the Dodgers almost staged another monumental comeback, only to have it fall short when they couldn’t come up with the big hit in the big moment. Instead, they fall to the Cardinals 7-6 in a game that they had every opportunity to win.
Tío Albert puts Redbirds on top early
We all love Albert Pujols for the time he spent on the Dodgers last season. However, he did damage to his former saviors in this one early. In the bottom of the second, he jacked a solo shot off Dodger starter Mitch White, the 685th of his storied career, and the Cardinals were off and running. They got another run in the inning on a wild pitch, and then a third on an RBI single from Andrew Knizner, and quickly the Dodgers were down 3-0.
Dodgers get one back, but White can’t hold ’em
The Dodgers were able to start a comeback in the top of the third, scoring a run on a Trea Turner single and a Freddie Freeman double. However, the comeback had some cold water thrown on it in the bottom of the inning when Nolan Gorman bashed a solo shot of his own over the centerfield fence, and once again the Dodgers were down three.
The first rule of holes is to stop digging
Things went from bad to worse in the bottom of the fourth when Mitch White gave up even more hits (he surrendered ten on the night) and even more runs. The Redbirds plated two in that inning, one on an RBI single from Knizner again, and another on a run-scoring knock from our old nemesis Nolan Arenado. So, in the space of only four innings, the Dodgers found themselves in a 6-1 hole.
Turner starts the comeback
The road back would be arduous, but the Dodgers had just done the same thing on Sunday, so they got to work. The first big blow was a two-run home run off the bat of Trea Turner in the top of the . On a 3-1 count from pitcher Matthew Libatore, Turner golfed an inside sinker down the right field line. It bounced off the foul pole, cutting the gap to 6-3.
Then in the sixth, when the Dodgers got another run, this time on an RBI groundout from Austin Barnes, the lead didn’t look so insurmountable anymore.
The pivotal 7th inning
It was the 7th inning that sealed the Dodgers’ fate in this one. And, it started off incredibly well. A catcher’s interference call, two singles and a walk, and suddenly the Dodgers had the bases loaded, nobody out, trailing by just one run.
But that one run never came. In an odd decision, Dave Roberts decided to pinch hit for Trayce Thompson with Max Muncy against the right-handed Junior Fernandez. This gave Cards skipper Oliver Marmol all the excuse he needed to lift the struggling Fernandez and opt for the lefty Packy Naughton. Still, the Dodgers had three shots to get a run home, and if they got a base hit, chances were good that they would take the lead.
However, the Dodgers came up empty. Muncy flew out to shallow center field. Hanser Alberto did the same to shallow left. Then, when Cody Bellinger struck out, the Dodgers had to take the field knowing that they’d let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. And indeed, they let many such opportunity slip through their fingers in this one. The team hit a combined 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and left 10 men on base. Ugh. Not great, Bob.
Freeman homer for naught
Still, the Dodgers could have tied the ball game on Freddie Freeman’s leadoff 9th inning solo shot. However, David Price had been his typically inconsistent self in the bottom of the eighth and given up a run on three hits, so the Freeman homer only brought the game back to a one-run deficit.
After Freeman’s homer, Cards closer Giovanny Gallegos got two straight strikeouts, but surrendered a four-pitch walk to Max Muncy with two down. Then, he fell behind to Jake Lamb 3-0. Lamb was greenlit on the next pitch and swung, but he couldn’t quite turn the center-cut fastball around. The ball landed harmlessly in the glove of center fielder Dylan Carlson, and the game was over. Ugh. Frustrating loss, even amidst the nice comeback.
The Catman pitches in Game 2
So, the Dodgers’ winning streak ends at seven. They try to get back on the right side of the ledger on Wednesday night. The series will have its marquee pitching match-up in the next one. Two-time All-Star Adam Wainwright toes the rubber for the Redbirds. And on the Dodgers side of the scorecard will be Tony Gonsolin, making his final start before (starting? appearing?) in Tuesday’s All-Star game in Dodger Stadium. It will be his last chance to sway the jury that seems to be leaning toward Sandy Alcantara at the moment. Go, Catman, go! 4:45 first pitch.
Cans of Corn…
- Not in love with Doc’s game management in this one. Why not send Trayce to the plate as scheduled, and then make the switch if Fernandez gets pulled?
- Another questionable move was taking Trea Turner out of a close game after his at-bat in the 8th. What if the Dodgers had tied it and the game went into extras? Why pull your best hitter even if he’s already hit?
- Trea and Freddie had it going on at the dish in this one. Trea: 2-for-4 with a HR and two knocked in. Freddie: 4-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
- That first inning grand slam on Sunday might have cost Julio Urias his spot on the ASG roster. On Tuesday afternoon, Carlos Rodon was named to take Josh Hader‘s spot. Not much wiggle room left for Julio at this point.
- Andrew Heaney threw a short sim game at Busch Stadium on Monday afternoon. He’s looking at a rehab at Rancho Cucamonga this weekend, and then maybe rejoining the team after the All-Star break.
- Generally, I like Dave Roberts, but you know, the criticism. I get it. Yeah.
