Walker Buehler labored through another start and the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t put forth their cleanest effort in a 7-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Since sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in a four-game series, the Dodgers have lost seven of their last 11.
They took a lead in the second inning when Chris Taylor followed Justin Turner’s base hit with an RBI double to left-center field gap. However, it quickly was wiped away as Joc Pederson sparked the Giants’ comeback.
Pederson lined a leadoff single into center field and got himself into scoring position with a surprise stolen base. That immediately paid off when Evan Longoria’s chopper down the third-base line got by Max Muncy for a game-tying RBI double.
Brandon Crawford then ambushed the first pitch from Buehler for a go-ahead single. Buehler did go on to strike out five consecutive batters in a row before surrendering a solo home run to Darin Ruf in the fourth inning.
Buehler wound up going just four innings, throwing 70 pitches and allowing four runs. The Dodgers later announced he was removed due to right elbow discomfort.
Coupled with the shortest start of his career (2.1 innings) last week, Buehler has failed to go at least five innings in consecutive outings for only the second time in his career. The first instance was when Buehler went 2.2 and four innings in back-to-back starts to close out the 2020 regular season.
Justin Bruihl didn’t do himself any favors in the fifth inning as he threw the ball away after fielding a tapper in front of the mound. One night after the Dodgers benefitted from an intentional walk, the free pass cost them.
Wilmer Flores was put on to load the bases with one out so Bruihl could face Pederson, who promptly hit a two-run single. Ruf’s RBI base hit tacked on another run before Bruihl could get through the inning. Ruf then collected his second home run of the game in the eighth.
The Dodgers’ only bit of scoring after the second inning came on a Gavin Lux solo homer in the fifth. The home run was Lux’s second of the season, with the first coming April 13.
Dodgers activating Kershaw
Buehler’s injury could be another setback for the Dodgers starting rotation that was going to inch closer to full health with Clayton Kershaw’s impending return Saturday.
The Dodgers initially planned to activate Kershaw off the 10-day injured list on Sunday but moved the return date up in order to give Julio Urías extra rest before his start against the Giants.
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