The Los Angeles Dodgers tried to break a four-game losing streak on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs after being swept by the Boston Red Sox at home and then losing the opener at Wrigley Field on Monday.
However, they were unable to do so, and their losing streak reached five games as the struggles from their offense and bullpen both continued. They have also lost seven of their last nine games.
This also marks the second consecutive series loss the Dodgers have taken, and they now look to avoid being swept for just the third time this season in the series finale on Wednesday morning.
Cubs 5, Dodgers 1: key takeaways
Tarik Skubal makes Dodgers debut
Tarik Skubal was on the mound for the first time as a Dodger, and he was as advertised, turning in an excellent start. The left-hander gave the Dodgers six innings of two-run ball, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking two.
Skubal struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong to open his Dodgers career, and he got through two perfect innings. The Cubs got to him in the third inning when Dansby Swanson hit a solo home run that tied the game.
Skubal then went on a stretch of retiring eight consecutive hitters before a one-out walk in the sixth inning. Alex Bregman followed with a double that could have, or perhaps should have, been caught by Kyle Tucker.
The Dodgers prevented the Cubs from scoring when Tommy Edman and Ben Rortvedt combined to record an out at the plate for the second out, but the Cubs ended up taking a 2-1 lead on a high chopper in the infield that was too slow for Edman to make a play on.
Skubal then recorded the final out to finish off his Dodgers debut with a quality start.
Dodgers offensive struggles continue
The Dodgers scored just one run, which came on a home run from Tucker in the second inning. In total, they tallied just four hits and two walks, which didn’t give them many opportunities to score.
The Dodgers went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, left three men on base, and hit into two double plays.
It marked the fifth consecutive game the Dodgers have scored to reach six runs in a day, and they have scored four or fewer in four of them.
Bullpen issues ongoing
The Dodgers’ bullpen allowed three runs, with three different pitchers, to put the game out of reach.
Alex Vesia allowed a double and RBI single to make it a 3-1 game, then Evan Phillips entered and allowed an RBI single to extend the Cubs’ lead.
Edwin Díaz entered to pitch the eighth, and he allowed a home run to make it 5-1, and he allowed two more baserunners before exiting. Jack Dreyer escaped the jam.
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