Walker Buehler labored through his worst start of the season and the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 6-4 loss in the rubber match against the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants not only reclaimed sole possession of first place in the National League West, but they won 10 of 19 regular-season meetings and therefore would have home-field advantage if a Game 163 is required to decide a division winner.
Buehler pitched all of three innings and allowed six runs, both of which were season-worst marks. It also was the first time Buehler allowed six runs since doing so against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 2, 2019.
The Giants took a lead when Brandon Belt drove a fastball from Buehler out to Triples Alley for a solo home run in the first inning. They got to Buehler again behind Steven Duggar’s two-run triple and a pinch-hit RBI single from Darin Ruf in the second inning.
Buehler’s struggles continued in the third as he gave up a ground-rule double to LaMonte Wade Jr. followed by Brandon Crawford putting L.A. in a 5-1 deficit with his RBI extra-base hit. Curt Casali later drove Crawford in on his base hit before Buehler could get out of the inning.
The outing was in stark contrast to his dominance against the Giants this season and career undefeated record in San Francisco. Buehler’s struggles were magnified by the Dodgers failing to take advantage of their opportunities in a second consecutive bullpen game for the Giants.
They loaded the bases three times in the first five innings but only managed to score in two of those instances — and one run in each case. Ten Dodgers batters were retired in a row after Will Smith’s walk with the bases loaded in the fifth inning.
A Kris Bryant throwing error allowed Austin Barnes to reach to start the ninth, and that was followed by Albert Pujols hitting his 678th career home run. Jake McGee locked back in from there to stop the Dodgers’ rally and convert the save.
Dodgers without Pollock
AJ Pollock was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain prior to first pitch, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts forecasted he would be sidelined for multiple weeks.
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