The Los Angeles Dodgers began the second half of the season with a three-game set at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After exploding for 13 runs in the opener, the offense quieted down and Los Angeles dropped two consecutive games.
The series loss should be looked at as a failed opportunity, with the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants getting swept by the San Diego Padres over the weekend. Perhaps some solace is found with the Dodgers managing to pick up one game in the standings.
In Sunday’s series finale, Kenta Maeda and the heavily right-handed lineup faced off against southpaw Robbie Ray.
Maeda was coming off the best start of his young career in the Majors, holding the San Diego Padres to one run over seven innings and setting a career high with 13 strikeouts.
However, he failed to replicate that success against the Diamondbacks. Jake Lamb’s RBI single gave Arizona the lead in the first inning, and Brandon Drury’s two-run double added to it.
The hits were two of four consecutive that Maeda allowed in the opening frame. He said after the loss that the early runs prevented him from settling in, via Andy McCullough of the LA Times:
“I think the three runs in the first inning really took a toll,” Maeda said. “I couldn’t get into my rhythm after that.”
Maeda’s outing concluded in the fifth inning, as he allowed seven hits, one walk, and a career-high five runs in 4.1 innings pitched. The loss was Maeda’s third in his last five starts, and he’s allowed at least four runs in each of the three losses.
On the season, Maeda is 8-7 with a 3.25 ERA, 3.44 FIP, and 1.12 WHIP. He currently leads all National League rookies in strikeouts (112), games started (19), and innings pitched (108).
