The Los Angeles Dodgers could not get back into the win column against the Seattle Mariners, as they fell 4-3 in Monday’s series opener at T-Mobile Park.
Dustin May struggled out of the gate, allowing a two-run home run to Jose Marmolejos in the first inning that barely cleared the right-field fence. He then gave up a solo shot to Taylor Trammell in the second that extended the Mariners’ lead to 3-0.
The right-hander settled down for the most part after that, retiring nine of his final 12 batters faced. May allowed one more run in the fourth, but it was unearned as Chris Taylor booted a routine grounder that prolonged the inning and gave Trammell the opportunity to drive in Luis Torrens with an RBI double.
In five innings of work, May was charged with four runs (three earned) and four hits. “Really poor fastball execution, breaking ball was good. Got to be better,” he said of the outing.
Though he struggled with the home run ball, May issued just one walk and matched a career high with eight strikeouts — all of which came on his curveball. “It felt really good. I changed the way that I’ve been thinking about throwing it, and execution-wise it was good,” he said of his breaking ball.
May had a specific strategy with his curveball, which involved throwing it in favorable counts. “It felt right out of the hand, so I just used it in spots that I felt I could take advantage of it,” he said. “It worked.”
While May was pleased with his curveball, he did not feel the same way about his fastball. “It was just all over the place,” he said.
Both of the home runs May allowed were on his heater. He felt he let the team down by putting them in an early hole.
“I mean, it was a tough feeling for me,” May said of the Dodgers trailing early. “I guess I failed the team. Their hitters hit well. It was poor execution on my end.”
May finding success with throwing curveball differently
One bright spot from Monday’s loss against the Mariners was May’s success when throwing his curveball. He revealed that he made some adjustments and now throws it with a different grip.
“It’s just the way that I’m releasing it out of the hand. I’m more on the side of the ball instead of on top,” May noted.
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