Playing under the cloud of swirling Max Scherzer trade rumors and the Los Angeles Dodgers being in the market for starting pitching, David Price labored through a short outing that resulted in a 5-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Price lacked command early and issued back-to-back walks with one out in the first inning. He nearly wiggled out of the jam but put on Donovan Solano and that was followed by Brandon Crawford beating the shift with a chopper up the third-base line that went for a two-run double.
Price ran into more two-out trouble in the second inning when Wilmer Flores added to the Giants’ lead with an RBI double. The theme held in the fourth as Chris Taylor’s error that put on Thairo Estrada to start the inning was cashed in by Austin Slater’s RBI bloop single into center field.
Coming off his longest start of the season (5.2 innings), Price was removed after getting an out in the fifth inning.
His effort was bested by Johnny Cueto, who scattered four hits and collected five strikeouts over 5.2 shutout innings. The Dodgers’ best opportunity to get back into the game was in the sixth inning when Taylor’s walk, Max Muncy’s base hit and Justin Turner working a walk loaded the bases.
That marked the end of the afternoon for Cueto, and Jarlin Garcia struck out Cody Bellinger on three pitches to end the threat.
Report: Dodgers trade for Duffy
Shortly after it was said the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres were nearing an agreement on a Scherzer trade, the Dodgers reportedly struck a deal to acquire Danny Duffy from the Kansas City Royals.
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