Pitching woes continue, Dodgers drop fifth straight

The Dodgers’ losing streak has now reached five, as they dropped the opening game of their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-5.

For the Dodgers, it was a solid night for the offense. In total, they scored five runs on 12 hits, three of which came via the home run ball. Unfortunately it wouldn’t be enough, as the pitching allowed eight runs on 12 hits.

The pitching woes starting early on in the game, as Milwaukee plated two in the first inning. Julio Urias allowed three hits and a walk, with both runs being driven in with two outs.

In the bottom half of the inning, Corey Seager would cut the lead in half with a solo home run, his second of the year. On the night, Seager would go 2-for-3 with two walks.

The game would go back-and-forth between the third and fifth inning. Cody Bellinger gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night in the bottom of the third, as he connected on his eighth home run of the season.

Their lead would be short lived, as Hernan Perez answered right back with a two-run home run of his own in the top of the fourth, putting the Brewers back on top 4-3. As mentioned earlier, the lead would quickly go back in favor of the Dodgers, as Joc Pederson responded with a two-run homer of his own in the bottom frame, putting LA back on top, at 5-4.

Yet again in the fifth, the Brewers matched with another two-run home run, this time, coming at the hands of former Dodgers catcher, Yasmani Grandal. This would give the Brewers a 6-5 lead, and LA had no answer the remainder of the game.

It was quite the return for Grandal, who made his first trip back to LA since signing with Milwaukee in the offseason. He went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs on the night. For the season, Grandal is hitting .385.

Though the Dodgers went scoreless the remainder of the game, it didn’t come without plenty of opportunities. In the bottom of the fifth, LA had two on with only one out. Earlier in the season, the Dodgers thrived with runners in scoring position. Tonight, as well as the last four games, it was their downfall.

Enrique Hernandez popped out, and Austin Barnes was called out on strikes, putting an end to any potential rally.

LA entered the bottom of the eighth down two, and had the near-impossible task to string together a rally off of arguably the best relief pitcher in all of baseball, Josh Hader. Coming into Friday’s game, Hader had allowed only one hit on the season.

That meant nothing to the Dodgers, as David Freese and Chris Taylor both got hits. Seager would walk, and the bases would be loaded for Justin Turner. Throughout the eighth, Hader was throwing mostly fastballs that clocked in between 95 and 96 mph. He used this to his advantage, as he got Turner to swing and miss at an 80 mph slider, striking him out, and escaping the inning.

Friday particulars

WP: Matt Albers (1-0) ²⁄₃ IP, 1 SO, 0 ER

LP: Julio Urias (0-1), 5 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 4 SO

Home runs: Cody Bellinger (8), Corey Seager (2), Joc Pederson (5), Yasmani Grandal (4), Hernan Perez (2)

Up next

The Dodgers will look to begin a winning streak tomorrow evening, as they’ll send Caleb Ferguson to the mound to start. Yes, actually. Tomorrow will be a bullpen game for LA, according to manager Dave Roberts. First pitch is at 6:10 pm PT on SportsNet LA.