One day after the Dodgers executed a picture-perfect 8-0 victory against the NL West-leading Giants, the Los Angeles offense went missing once again, this time resulting in a 5-0 defeat. The loss closed a three-game set between the division rivals, with the Giants winning two contests and lengthening their lead to three full games.
The Dodgers mustered just four hits on the afternoon, all singles. AJ Pollock had two of the hits for Los Angeles, while Max Muncy and Austin Barnes added one apiece. The Dodgers had just one runner in scoring position all day after starting pitcher David Price laid down a bunt to advance Barnes to second base in the third inning.
The inconsistencies of the Los Angeles offense from one night to the next have been commonly viewed as the team’s modus operandi for the 2021 season.
Price lasted 4-1/3 innings and 64 pitches in what was “officially” his sixth start of the year. The veteran lefty allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two San Francisco batters.
Aside from the struggling Victor Gonzalez, the Dodgers bullpen held their own. Gonzalez allowed an earned run on two hits and a walk during the eighth inning, increasing his season ERA to an uncharacteristic 3.65.
Johnny Cueto picked up the win for San Francisco. The veteran righty threw 77 pitches, surrendering four hits and two walks while striking out five.
Austin Slater and Wilmer Flores had two hits apiece for the Giants. Both players scored one run.
Brandon Crawford delivered the big blow of the day for the Giants on a ground-ball double to left field that scored Mike Yastrzemski and Donovan Solano.
Next up for the Dodgers is a three-game series against the Diamondbacks on the road beginning Friday.
Dodgers Acquire Danny Duffy
In other news, Los Angeles threw its name back into the summer trade action when the club reached a deal with the Royals for veteran starting pitcher Danny Duffy.
The lefty Duffy is currently sitting on the 10-day disabled list with a sore forearm, which would seemingly put him right at home with the injury-riddled Dodgers.
Current indications are that Duffy might need three to four more weeks to heal, allowing him to return to action sometime in late August.
The 32-year-old Duffy is in the last year of a five-year/$65 million deal he originally signed with the Royals in 2017.
Before his injury, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound Duffy posted a 4-3 record with a 2.51 ERA, 3.38 FIP and 1.213 WHIP alongside 65 punchouts and 22 walks over 12 starts and an even 61 innings of work.
Duffy has a vast repertoire of pitches, but he mainly uses a fourseam, slider and change along with an occasional curve.
According to Brooks Baseball, Duffy’s heater this season topped out as high as 94.6 MPH in June.
The Royals will receive a player to be named later in return.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Duffy, the Dodgers designated outfielder DJ Peters for assignment.
