The Los Angeles Dodgers have enjoyed plenty of success against Anthony DeSclafani but couldn’t replicate that Friday night in a 3-2 walk-off loss to the San Francisco Giants in 11 innings that snapped a three-game winning streak. They also had their stretch of consecutive one-run victories end at eight.
With the victory the Giants pulled back ahead for first place in the National League West standings by one game. It also guaranteed that at worst they will finish the series one game behind the Dodgers.
DeSclafani got through six scoreless innings with only five baserunners allowed. One of those was Trea Turner, who had a leadoff single in the first inning and one-out walk in the third. The Dodgers’ only other hit off DeSclafani was a Corey Seager single in the fourth.
DeSclafani relied more heavily on his offspeed pitches than was previously seen in five other starts against the Dodgers this season, during which the right-hander had a 9.45 ERA.
David Price was scratched from his start due to elbow soreness, though prior to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts providing details, Corey Knebel was named the starter.
He again did well in the opener role, stranding a runner in the first and second innings. Knebel’s 32 pitches were his most in a single appearance since throwing 33 on Aug. 5, 2018. Furthermore, the two innings of work tied a career that was previously set Sept. 15, 2020.
Phil Bickford took the baton from Knebel and immediately pitched himself into trouble by walking DeSclafani and Darin Ruf. A Brandon Belt single loaded the bases and after striking out Kris Bryant, Bickford gave way to Alex Vesia.
Austin Slater greeted him with a pinch-hit RBI single but Vesia retired the next two batters to keep the damage to a minimum.
Brusdar Graterol worked around a leadoff double in the fourth inning, and Justin Bruihl stranded two inherited runners in the fifth.
The bullpen’s effort was not reward for much of the night as the Dodgers failed to take advantage of their opportunities, which included putting the leadoff man on base in the sixth and seventh innings.
That changed in the ninth when Justin Turner singled and Seager doubled. The Dodgers nearly ran themselves into a loss on the contact play and avoiding a complete collapse was followed by Chris Taylor tying the game with an RBI bloop single.
Kenley Jansen lacked command and issued a pair of walks in the bottom of the ninth, but managed to send the game into extra innings.
Although Albert Pujols is not regarded for his speed, he alertly tagged on a fly ball to the warning track in center field to start the 10th as the automatic runner. He then was pinch-run for by Walker Buehler, who scored the go-ahead run on Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly.
However, it wound up being a wash as Andrew Vasquez gave up a game-tying RBI single to Brandon Crawford in the bottom of the 10th.
Evan Phillips managed to get the Dodgers out of that inning but was let down by Turner’s throwing error that pulled Will Smith off first base. Because Max Muncy was removed as part of a double switch earlier in the game and the Dodgers were out of position players, Smith was at first base for the first time his professional career.
Dodgers potentially losing Price
Although Price’s elbow soreness is not considered serious, Roberts acknowledged it was likely to result in a stint on the 10-day injured list.
“It’s nothing that’s going to be a big deal, but it’s just making sure we don’t let it become one,” Roberts said. “If it is an IL, it would be a short-term deal.”
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