Dodgers done in by a barrage of Cubs homers
by Ron Gutterman
The last time Noah Syndergaard struck out nine batters in a game on Sep. 29, 2019, he donned a New York Mets jersey and had yet to undergo Tommy John surgery.
Three-and-a-half years later against the Chicago Cubs— with an altered method of pitching — Syndergaard struck out nine once again.
Syndergaard’s effort ultimately ended in his second loss of the season, after a late barrage of home runs by the Cubs handed the Dodgers an 8–2 defeat.
The Cubs hit five home runs in the game, including four off reliever Andre Jackson — three in the eighth inning when the Dodgers entered the frame trailing 3–2.
Cubs catcher Yan Gomes tagged Syndergaard for a homer in the fifth inning. It was one of two homers Gomes hit in the game.
Syndergaard tossed 92 pitches over six innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits with two walks and the nine punch-outs.
The Dodger starter left the game trailing 3–1. But five earned runs allowed by Jackson in the final two innings put the game out of reach for LA.
“Noah navigated and had a quality start,” manager Dave Roberts said. “When the starter pitches like that, you expect to win the ballgame.”
Syndergaard finished the night at his strongest.
The sixth inning saw Syndergaard strike out Patrick Wisdom, Eric Hosmer and Edwin Rios swinging in order. All three strikeouts came via his changeup.
On a night when Syndergaard all but abandoned his four-seam fastball — he threw only eight — he found success with his changeup, forcing a 45% whiff rate and a 36% called strike plus whiff rate (CSW%).
“The changeup is pretty much a feel pitch and I had a good feel for it tonight,” Syndergaard said. “I executed it a lot better than I did in the start against the Diamondbacks.”
The Dodgers had only three hits in the game and were limited over seven innings by Cubs starter Justin Steele.
Muncy hits career homer №150
One of the Dodgers’ two runs on the night came from the bat of Max Muncy in what has become a familiar sight over the past week.
Muncy hit a 1–1 high fastball to deep right field for a home run, his fifth in four nights, sixth on the season and the 150th of his career. It cut the Dodger deficit in half to make it 3–2.
Muncy is now tied for the Major League home run lead alongside the Mets’ Pete Alonso, Red Sox’s Rafael Devers and Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle.
Chris Taylor Homers
Friday night saw Chris Taylor hit his third home run of the season. The third-inning solo homer on an 0–1 slider was hit at 109 mph and traveled 412 feet.
Three of Taylor’s four hits this season are home runs. They have distances of 412, 416 and 430 feet.
Bellinger Returns to LA
Before the game, Roberts said that he “loved managing” Cody Bellinger throughout his six-year Dodger career.
Max Muncy reminisced on Bellinger’s demeanor, saying “he always kept things light” in the clubhouse.
And Bellinger had a feeling he would get emotional watching the tribute video the Dodgers prepared for him.
“I remember watching baseball growing up and seeing this happen to guys, and now that I’m in this moment, it’s a little surreal,” Bellinger said.
Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in his return to Dodger Stadium.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers (7–7) face the Cubs in the second of a three-game home series. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m. PST from Dodger Stadium.
Michael Grove is the starter for LA, his third start of 2023. On the mound for the Cubs is right-handed starter Jameson Taillon.
