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There’s no question the Dodgers’ bullpen is their weak spot. Monday evening’s game in Anaheim really exemplified this weakness.
The pen took a hold of the game in the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead behind starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu. Ryu provided the team with a solid foundation to work from, as per usual. He limited the Angels to just one run over six innings, allowing seven hits and no walks while delivering seven strikeouts.
Unfortunately for the boys in blue, Mike Trout ruined the lead with a swing of his bat. With one on in the 7th and Dylan Floro on the mound, Trout hit a 402-foot home run to even the score at three.
This was just the beginning of the end for the Dodgers this evening.
Joe Kelly came in to pitch the eighth inning and (to put it lightly) it was a disaster. Though he didn’t allow a hit, Kelly let two runs score on his watch.
He surrendered three walks to load the bases with one out. Max Muncy tried to get the force out at home after a dribbler to the infield, but the runner was safe after review. Shortly afterwards, the second run would score from a wild pitch past Russell Martin to give the Angels a 5-3 lead.
There was a sign of life when the Dodgers landed two on with no outs in the ninth inning. A lot of hope was riding on this opportunity, but they wouldn’t capitalize. Kiké Hernández flied out to record the first out of the inning before Joc Pederson grounded into a double play to finish the game.
The only other time the Dodgers offense saw action was in the second inning when they scored three runs. Corey Seager doubled and Russell Martin was hit by a pitch to get two on, bringing in Chris Taylor and Hernández to each hit a double of their own.
The Angels rule the city tonight, with a 5-3 win over the Dodgers.
Monday particulars
WP: Ty Buttrey (4-2), 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
LP: Joe Kelly (1-3), 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K
SV: Hansel Robles (8), 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Home runs: Kole Calhoun (14), Mike Trout (18)
Up next
The Dodgers will try to split the series tomorrow, sending Kenta Maeda to the mound to face Félix Peña. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. PDT.
Correction: A previous version of this article referred to the Angels outfielder as “Kyle Calhoun”. His name is Kole Calhoun.