The Los Angeles Dodgers had an abundance of opportunities throughout the night but could never break through in a 5-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Dustin May didn’t have much control in the first inning as he opened it with back-to-back walks. Joc Pederson made May pay with a two-run double that held as the difference.
For all his trouble early, May managed to settle in as he needed just 10 pitches to get through the second inning and 11 in the third. May wound up providing the Dodgers with some length as he pitched into the sixth inning.
The Dodgers bullpen initially followed May with scoreless work but it was all for naught because the offense couldn’t capitalize on having runners reach.
Arguably their biggest opportunity was with the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth inning. However, the game seemingly slipped away when Chris Taylor struck out for the third time on the night.
James Outman hit a dribbler in front of the plate for a force out and Miguel Rojas went down swinging. Although the Giants had Scott Alexander warming up and he entered after Taylor’s at-bat, it was a curious decision to not have Max Muncy pinch-hit.
Muncy wound up batting for Trayce Thompson to lead off the eighth inning, and he struck out. Muncy had a pre-determined night off despite his multi-home run performance the game prior.
Evan Phillips entered in the bottom of the eighth but failed to keep the Giants at bay. He surrendered back-to-back home runs to the David Villar and Brandon Crawford, which put the Dodgers in a 5-0 deficit.
The two home runs allowed matched Phillips’ total from the 2023 season, in the latest sign of regression from Dodgers relief pitchers.
Dodgers lineup struggles
The Dodgers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base in their loss.
Freddie Freeman had his streak of reaching safely at Oracle Park snapped at 31 consecutive games.
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