Dodger pitching hit hard by Nationals in matinee loss
by Ron Gutterman
The Dodgers entered Wednesday in search of a sweep and single-digit losses in the month of May.
Instead, the Nationals responded to the threat of the broom with their bats.
Dodger pitching was hit hard all game, resulting in a 10–6 loss in the series finale. The Dodgers finish May 18–10 but with losses in four of their last seven.
The Nationals hit five home runs on the day. They had 16 hard-hit balls — exit velocity above 95 mph — nine of them leaving the bat in the triple digits.
Three of those homers were hit against starter Noah Syndergaard, accounting for four of his five earned runs. He allowed eight of the 16 hard-hit balls.
Syndergaard twice was at the helm when the Nationals turned a deficit into a tie or lead.
After three first-inning runs by LA, Syndergaard allowed back-to-back homers from Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams in the second frame to make it 3–2.
Washington tied it the following inning with a Jeimer Candelario RBI single.
Syndergaard nearly managed to escape with win eligibility with a 4–3 lead in the fifth inning.
But the Dodger infield was unable to turn an inning-ending double play. Candelario, for the second time, made Syndergaard pay, hitting a two-run shot to give the Nationals a 5–4 lead.
Syndergaard finished with five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He pitched five innings and saw his season ERA rise to 6.54.
“I was trying to make adjustments,” Syndergaard said. “I’ll do everything possible to get back to the old me, but I’m still expected to go out there and compete.”
The Dodger bullpen had an equally tough time limiting hard contact.
Brusdar Graterol — a three-run home run by Luis García— and Phil Bickford — a two-run shot by Ruiz — gave up the remaining damage for the Dodgers.
The 10-run outing puts an exclamation point on a Dodger pitching staff that ranks 22nd in team ERA, an unusual place for a Dodger staff to be, especially as the team closes out a winning May.
“It’s disappointing as far as our expectations for the pitching staff and their performance,” manager Dave Roberts said. “When we need to make a pitch, consistently we’re not doing it.”
Top of the order
MLB All-Star Game voting began on Wednesday. And the top of the Dodger order used the first inning as a quick advertisement for their place in the Midsummer Classic.
Mookie Betts led things off with a home run, his 40th-career leadoff homer and his 20th in a Dodger uniform.
Freddie Freeman followed up with a single to extend his hit streak to 20 games, tied for the second-longest of his career.
Then Will Smith belted a two-run shot of his own. The Dodgers had a 3–0 lead in three batters.
J.D. Martinez — batting fourth — staked his claim with a fifth-inning double that extended his hit streak to 15 games. It is the second-longest hit streak of his career.
Betts, for the first time this season, hit two homers. His second came in the eighth inning to cut the Dodger deficit to 8–6.
Freddie Freeman stole two bags for the second time this season (April 29 against the Cardinals).
In total, the quartet of Betts, Freeman, Smith and Martinez went 7-for-16 with three home runs, a double and four walks.
“Hopefully the fans or players vote me in,” Smith said of the All-Star Game. “I’d be honored, I’d love it and it would be my first one.”
Grove starting Saturday
The Dodger starting rotation has been in flux since Julio Urías and Dustin May were placed on the injured list this month. But they’re hoping for some stability in the form of Michael Grove, who began the season in the Opening Day rotation.
Roberts confirmed on Wednesday that Grove — who was placed on the 15-day IL on April 21 with a right groin strain — will make his return to the big league mound on Saturday against the Yankees.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers (34–23) have an off-day Thursday before continuing their homestand on Friday with a highly-anticipated series against the Yankees.
Clayton Kershaw is on the mound for the series opener against right-hander Luis Severino. Tickets can be purchased here.
