Plenty of Ugly as Bats Can’t Save Bobby Miller and Bullpen

While the relievers were not very good, we cannot blame this on them.  Although, Michael Grove did let a game that was getting close, get away from him.

This loss is on Bobby Miller.  Miller went to the bump in the bottom of the first with a 2-0 lead, thanks to Teoscar Hernández’ 2-out bases loaded single plated Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

After striking out the side in the first inning, he could not get out of the 2^nd inning.  He got Christopher Morel to ground out for the first out, but then Dansby Swanson slugged a solo HR, and that was like the beginning of the end.  He walked Michael Busch on a 3-2 pitch, and then gave up back to back singles to Nico Hoerner and Nick Madrigal.  Madrigal’s single scored Busch and the score was tied.

After he got Yan Gomes on the 2^nd out, Ian Happ was at bat, and drew a walk to load the bases.  A wild pitch scored Hoerner and allowed Madrigal and Happ to move up.  Both Hoerner and Madrigal scored on a double by Seiya Suzuki.

Dinelson Lamet relieved Miller intentionally walked Cody Bellinger, and got Morel to fly out for the final out.  Miller went 1.2 IP, and allowed 5 runs, all earned.

Lamet gave up a solo HR to Busch in the 3^rd.

In the 4^th, with 2 outs, Teoscar Hernández singled and James Outman doubled.  After Chris Taylor lined out to Madrigal, Gavin Lux hit a ground ball up the middle that Nico Hoerner was able to dive, collect the ball, and fire to first for the third out.

The Dodgers got close in the 5^th.  Mookie singled and Ohtani slugged a 2-run HR.  Freddie drew a BB, and Will Smith doubled him home.  With the tying run on 2^nd and nobody out, LHRP Drew Smyly was summoned to replace Kyle Hendricks.  Smyly proceeds to strike out Muncy, Hernández, and Outman.

But the Dodgers were within 1 after 5, and with their offense, they were certainly not out of it.  Michael Grove issued a BB, allowed a single, threw a WP, gave up a triple, and a sac fly.  Grove did K Bellinger to end the inning.  But a 1-run deficit turned into 4.

In the 7^th, Freddie drew his 3^rd walk and Smith got his third hit.  After a WP put runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with one out, Max Muncy K for the third time.  But Teoscar singled both runners in and the Dodgers were back with two.

The Dodgers with Freddie and Smith getting on base yet again.  After Muncy flew out to Bellinger.  Hernández was ruled out on a play that was originally scored an infield single, but Freddie and Smith moved to 2^nd and 3^rd.  That brought up James Outman.  Outman has been hitting into a lot of bad luck, and did so again.  While not hit hard, his line drive was headed to right field when Michael Busch laid out to backhand the liner.

So yes, Miller was bad, and the game kind of got out of control in the Cubs 2^nd.  Did the cold impact Miller in any way???  The Dodgers could have come out with a win with better hitting WRISP.  They were 3-16.  They also struck out 12 times.  But it was the Muncy/Outman duo that were the big strikeout victims.

• 1^st inning bases loaded – Muncy K; runners on 1^st and 3^rd, Outman K.
• 5^th inning runner on 2^nd – Muncy, Hernández, and Outman K
• 7^th inning runners on 2^nd and 3^rd – Muncy K; runner on 2^nd, Outman K

Muncy left 5 runners in scoring position after striking out, and Outman left 3 runners in scoring position after striking out.

• Will Smith had 4 hits: 3 singles and 1 double.
• Freddie Freeman reached base 4 times with a single and three walks.
• Shohei Ohtani went 2-5 with a double and HR.
• Teoscar Hernández went 3-5 and 4 RBIs.
• Freddie scored 3 runs, and Ohtani scored 2 runs.
• Teoscar Hernández now leads MLB with 14 RBIs.

While Dinelson Lamet did give up a HR, and Grove allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and a BB, Alex Vesia pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, even though he had 2 BBs.

This was a 2^nd game that the starting pitcher got knocked out early but the bats put the Dodgers in a position to win, only for the relievers to let the game get out of hand (San Diego – Game 2).

The bullpen has not been good, but it is early, and three relievers that were considered to be in the pen (Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, and Emmet Sheehan) are on the IL.  In 4 games and 7.2 IP, Michael Grove has just about run out of rope.  He has allowed 10 runs on 13 hits, 2 HBP, 3 BB, and 6K.  He has given up at least 3 runs in 3 of his 4 games.  That is not MLB quality.

I guess one can get exasperated with a frustrating loss.  However, the Dodgers are 7-3 (113 win pace) and have no reason to panic in any way.  Hopefully Miller will let it go and get ready for his next start.  The Dodgers have Yamamoto and Stone for Saturday and Sunday.  The Cubs will counter with back to back LHSP against the Dodgers (Jordan Wicks and Shōta Imanaga).

MiLB GAME SUMMARIES

OKC Baseball Club 3 – Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) 1

Eduardo Salazar was the star in this one.  He threw 75 pitches (43 strikes) and completed 6.0 IP.  It wasn’t perfect, but with the help of three double plays, Salazar got out of multiple jams.

After two batters, he was down 1-0.  A walk, SB, and double gave the Isotopes the lead.  But that was all Albuquerque would get.  Stephen Gonsalves, JP Feyereisen, and Kevin Gowdy pitched to one batter over the minimum for the final three innings.  Gonsalves hit a batter, but that was it.  Gonsalves got the win, Feyereisen got a hold, and Gowdy got his 2^nd save.

Kevin Padlo opened the 2^nd with a double and moved to 3^rd on an Andre Lipcius single.  Padlo scored the tying run on a force out ground ball by Hunter Feduccia.

OKC takes the lead in the 7^th on a double by Feduccia to open the inning.  He went to third on a Kody Hoese ground out, and scored on a wild pitch.

In the 8^th, Andy Pages reached 2B on a throwing error, and scored on a Miguel Vargas single.

• Kevin Padlo – 2-4, double (2)
• Hunter Feduccia – 1-3, double (1), 1 RBI
• Miguel Vargas – 1-4, 1 RBI, 13 RBIs this season (7 games)

Box Score

Tulsa Drillers 6 – NW Arkansas Naturals (KC) 4

LHSP Justin Wrobleski was outstanding in his AA debut.  In 5.0 IP, his lone mistake was a HR to catcher Rodolfo Duran.  He allowed 3 hits and 1 BB, and struck out 6.  He threw 70 pitches (47 strikes).

Jack Dreyer pitched 2.0 perfect innings with 4 K.  Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless 8^th with 2 hits and 3 K.

Sauryn Lau had a tough 2024 debut in his 1.0 IP.  He entered the 9^th with a 6-1 lead.  When he got out of the inning, the Drillers held on for a 6-4 win.  2 singles and 2 doubles plate 3 runs.  The game ended with a F-9 to Lolo Sanchez who threw out a runner trying to advance to 3^rd for a 9-5 DP.

The Drillers got their initial run in 2024 after a BB, Diego Cartaya single, and Brendon Davis sac fly.  In the 4^th, Yeiner Fernandez singled, Damon Keith walked for the 2^nd time, José Ramos singled home Fernandez, and Cartaya doubled to score Keith.

Tulsa scored a pair of unearned runs in the 6^th.  In the 8^th, Austin Gauthier singled and scored on Dalton Rushing’s triple.

• Diego Cartaya – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (1)
• Dalton Rushing – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI, triple (1)
• Damon Keith – 0-1, 2 BB
• 3-14 WRISP
• 10 LOB
• Justin Wrobleski – W (1-0)

Box Score

Great Lakes Loons 3 – Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres) 2

It took 11 innings, but the Loons got a 2-out walk off single by Noah Miller to get the win.

Jackson Ferris started and completed 3.0 innings, 67 pitches (37 strikes).  He allowed an unearned run on 3 hits, 3 BB, and 4 K.  The Loons turned it over to the bullpen and got excellent results.

Christian Suarez pitched 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing only 1 BB and 2 K.  Kelvin Ramirez followed and also completed 2.0 scoreless innings with 0 baserunners and 3 K.  Lucas Wepf pitched the next 3.0 scoreless innings allowing a single that was erased by a DP.

In the 10^th, GL nearly scored.  With Noah Miller starting at 2B, Thayron Liranzo was HBP.  After Chris Newell struck out, the pitcher balked and Miller and Liranzo moved up. Kyle Nevin was IBB to load the bases.  Dylan Campbell hit a line drive to LF who made a perfect throw home to nail Miller for the inning ending, game saving DP.

Joel Ibarra relieved Wepf.  The runner on 2^nd moved up to 3^rd on a F-7, and scored on a fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the 11^th, Dylan Campbell started at 2^nd.  After Sam Mongelli struck out, Campbell moved to 3B on a WP.  Jake Vogel struck out for out #2.  But a 2^nd WP and Campbell scores the tying run. Luis Rodriguez singled, Jordan Thompson drew a walk, and Noah Miller singled home Rodriguez.

• Noah Miller 2-6, walk off RBI

Box Score

Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 11 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5

The Storm jumped all over three Quakes pitchers to take a 8-3 lead after 5.0 innings.  After RC scored two in the 6^th, two Quakes pitchers teamed up to walk 4 batters in the 7^th for one run and balk in a 2^nd run for two more runs and a 10-5 lead.

In the 8^th, a single, 2 walks, and a HBP scored another run.

In all, 5 Quakes pitchers allowed 11 runs (10 earned), 11 hits, 9 BB, 1 HBP, 1 balk, and 3 WP.

Josue De Paula and Jake Gelof had a pair of RBIs each and Zyhir Hope hit his first HR.

Zyhir Hope was the only RC batter to get 2 hits.  2-4 with a HR.

Wilman Diaz and Kendall George each scored 2 runs.

Kendall George, Josue De Paula, and Wilman Diaz each stole a base.  Zyhir Hope had an assist on a throw to the plate getting Jay Beshears who was trying to score on a single.

Hopefully the Quakes will just let this one go.  NEXT!!!

Box Score