Machado launches, but Dodgers are grounded in series opener
by Cary Osborne
There’s no secret that the Dodger offense has been susceptible to the strikeout since the All-Star Break, and on Thursday, they were bitten by the bug repeatedly.
The team that ranks second in the category in the Majors in the second-half struck out 15 times against the first-place Diamondbacks in a critical game on Thursday night and lost the series opener 3–1 at Dodger Stadium.
“Sometimes you have to tip your cap in this game,” said Dodger second baseman Brian Dozier, who was 1-for-4 with a strikeout. “I haven’t faced (Arizona starter) Robbie Ray in a long time. He had good stuff tonight.”
The Dodgers had opportunities, but couldn’t cash in.
Ray came in averaging 5.0 walks per nine innings and the eight of the Dodgers’ first 13 hitters took him to a three-ball count. But over 5 1/3 innings, the Dodgers managed just a pair of walks off Ray and walked twice in the game.
The Dodgers had first and second bases occupied with one out in the first and fourth innings and came away empty each time.
Dodger starter Rich Hill threw four shutout innings, but David Peralta’s three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning accounted for Arizona’s only runs in the game.
“These games are huge right now — that goes without saying. Just being accountable for that pitch and understanding that cost us the game is tough,” Hill said.
Manny Machado’s solo homer — his fourth home run in five games — was the only Dodger run.
Machado now has nine homers as a Dodger.
The Dodgers received four scoreless innings from the bullpen trio of Pedro Baez, Caleb Ferguson and Dylan Floro.
That trio has allowed one earned run over the last two weeks in 23 1/3 innings.
The Dodgers now trail Arizona by two games with three games left in the series and 28 games remaining in the season.
