3 takeaways from the Dodgers’ loss in Game 3 of the NLDS

Last night stung. The good thing is that the Dodgers’ season is still alive. All they gotta do is win two games in a row. It can be done.

Anyways, here are three takeaways from last night’s loss.

Max Scherzer shoved

This should have been remembered as the game in which Max Scherzer had his Dodger Stadium moment in the postseason. He pitched a hell of a game.

Scherzer gave the Dodgers seven innings, which is incredible considering he had more than 40 pitches after only two innings. The fact he was able to give them length was remarkable.

“When I was able to get through the first inning, I didn’t realize how much the wind was going to affect me,” he said following the game. “The wind was really pushing me towards home plate and it was pretty strong tonight. Then once I was able to get through the second inning, that’s when I really felt like I found some rhythm and was able to start executing pitches.”

For the game, he struck out 10 and issued only one walk. He also allowed only one run on three hits. Unfortunately, that run proved to be the difference maker. Scherzer allowed a solo home run to Evan Longoria on an 0-2 pitch right down the middle of the playe. It was Scherzer’s only mistake of the night and the Giants made him pay for it.

“[Once] you get to the postseason you can always lose by one pitch,” he said. “That comes into play. Tonight I lost it on one pitch.

“I was trying to go fastball up, trying to get above the zone, probably didn’t get above the zone. But it is what it is. You got to figure out why you didn’t execute that pitch and then turn the page and move on. It sucks.”

Overall, the Dodgers’ pitching staff finished the game with 14 strikeouts. They allowed one run on three hits. The Giants are the second team in POSTSEASON HISTORY to win a game with those numbers.

I hate the wind

Seriously, what good as wind ever done for us? I’ve been going to Dodger Stadium my whole life and I don’t think it’s ever been as windy as it was last night. Obviously a lot played a factor as to why the Dodgers didn’t win the game — the offense scoring zero runs is number one — but the wind certainly didn’t help.

The Dodgers appeared to have a number of balls die down because of the wind. Chris Taylor looked as if he hit a home run in the sixth inning, hitting one 107 mph off the bat with an expected batting average of .920.... but it died at the warning track. That one would have given the Dodgers a 2-1 lead had it gone out.

Just a few batters earlier, Trea Turner sent one 370 feet that was nearly 100 mph off the bat, but the wind buried that one as well.

The most painful one though came with two outs in the ninth inning....

Gavin Lux should have hit a game-tying home run

Dodger Stadium thought it was gone. I thought it was gone. Gavin Lux thought it was gone. Hell, even players on the Giants thought it was gone.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Gavin Lux crushed a ball to left-center, immediately raising his hand knowing he just tied the game. It was hit 107 mph off the bat and had an expected batting average of .890. It should have tied the game. Instead, the ball landed 370 feet from home plate in the mitt of Steven Duggar to end the game.

I mean look at this stat here.

Evan Longoria thought it was a home run.

Here’s what Dave Roberts had to say.

Lux’s reaction to that ball not going out is all of us.

Final takeaway

The Dodgers’ offense has cost them in this series. They are out-hitting the Giants and the pitching has been fantastic. The difference is that San Francisco has had some timely hits, where the Dodgers haven’t.

LA has been held scoreless in two of three games so far. That is unacceptable. Scoring nine runs was awesome on Saturday but it means nothing if you follow it up with a goose egg.

Here’s how LA’s best hitters have performed this series so far:

Mookie Betts is 3-for-12.

Trea Turner is 1-for-13.

Corey Seager is 2-for-12.

Justin Turner is 1-for-13.

AJ Pollock is 2-for-10.

Unacceptable.

If the Dodgers want to win this series, they can’t continue to rely on their pitching. Their best hitters need to step up and they need to step up tonight.