Photo By:Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Post-Game Briefing
After the first four games of the season, a team with All-Stars up and down its lineup and another team with a not-so All-Star lineup have the same exact record: two wins and two losses. The bats were nowhere to be found and the Dodgers lost to the Giants 3-1 Sunday night, splitting the four-game series.
Well, the proverbial training wheels are off and Julio Urías is finally a full-time starter for the first time in four years. His first outing of 2020 was, let’s just say, serviceable. He wasn’t dominant, but he kept the Dodgers in the game.
Urías struggled to keep runners off the bases. He never retired the side in order while pitching in and out of trouble all night. The good news for the Dodgers was, he was able to limit the damage to one run. The Giants had scoring opportunities, but were 1-7 with RISP vs. Urías. The lefty’s final line was: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB and 3 K on 78 pitches.
Julio Urías' final line: 5.0 innings, 1 run, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts#BringItHome pic.twitter.com/N39iniLlZi
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) July 27, 2020
Urías left the ball game with a no-decision because the Dodgers’ offense didn’t help him out, scoring one run through five innings. Los Angeles’ lone run came off the bat of Cody Bellinger, who singled in Mookie Betts in the bottom of the third.
The Dodgers offensive only amounted to six singles, 1 extra-base hit (double in the 9th) and the only rally came in the bottom of the eighth inning, which I’ll dive into below.
The Giants offense wasn’t much better, but their guys got hits when it counted. They took a late 2-1 lead in the top of the 6th when centerfielder Mauricio Dubon singled in a run off Adam Kolarek. Then in the 7th, Donovan Solano made it 3-1 San Francisco when he singled in a run off Pedro Baez.
The Dodgers were able to bring the tying run to the plate after AJ Pollock led off the 9th with a double, but Giants pitcher Trevor Gott set down Will Smith, Betts and Max Muncy in order afterwards.
Scoring Plays
- TOP 3RD: Darin Ruf RBI single (1-0 SF)
- BOT 3RD: Cody Bellinger RBI single (1-1)
- TOP 6TH: Mauricio Dubon RBI single (2-1 SF)
- TOP 7TH: Donovan Solano RBI single (3-1 SF)
DLD Play of the Game
In a crucial at-bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th, with the Dodgers trailing 3-1, Dave Roberts lets Kiké Hernandez hit. Hernandez has proven to be clutch in the past, but with a manager who loves a good platoon, it’s a little head-scratching as to why Roberts let Hernandez face right-handed submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers. Especially, when the Dodgers have the likes of lefties Joc Pederson, Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios sitting on the bench. Hernandez had the opportunity to bail his manager out, but instead grounded out to third to end the inning and the rally.
DLD Player of the Game
The DLD Player of the Game is Mookie Betts. In an overall disappointing game, the most exciting part was Betts’ first stolen base as a Dodger in the bottom of the 3rd. The Dodgers have been without a dynamic leadoff hitter for quite some time so to bring speed back to the top of the order is an exciting prospect to say the least. In his six seasons in the bigs, Betts has stolen a total of 126 bases (an average 21 per year). During his MVP season in 2018, he stole a career-high 30 bases.
Betts swiping second led to a run when Cody Bellinger promptly singled him home two batters later. He finished the game going 1-4, BB, SB and a run.
Up Next
The Dodgers are off Monday, but travel to Houston to face the Astros in a two-game series beginning on Tuesday. Walker Buehler will make his season debut on the mound vs. Framber Valdez of the Astros.
Buehler had a stellar 2019 for the Dodgers with a 14-4 record, 3.26 ERA, 215 K and 0.96 WHIP.
Valdez pitched mostly out of the bullpen for Houston in 2019, going 4-7, with a 5.86 ERA and WHIP of 1.67.
Game time is 6:10 pm PST on FS1 and SportsNet LA.
Jake Reiner covers the Dodgers for Dodgers-LowDown and is a reporter for KCBS/KCAL. Follow him on twitter @Reiner_Jake