Dodgers End Losing Streak … Barely

The Dodgers have to be feeling pretty good about the fact that their five-game losing streak came to an end on Saturday night against the Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.

Then again, they also have to be – or should be – feeling a little embarrassed (and hopefully a little ashamed) that they let a 13-0 laugher become a 14-11 squeaker.

Behind yet another stellar pitching performance from Dodgers ace and Future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ heretofore missing bats finally showed up … en masse.

Having lost their last four games and 14 of their last 18, the Dodgers collected 17 hits on Saturday evening, including an eight-run / eight-hit fourth inning to mount a seemingly insurmountable 13-0 lead.

Seemingly.

But after tacking on another run in the top half of the seventh inning on a bloop double by replacement right fielder DJ Peters (his first major league hit) followed by a Max Muncy single, the Dodgers bullpen, whom Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called upon to relieve Kershaw after only five innings and only 71 pitches (46 strikes), absolutely fell apart, allowing 11 runs on nine hits and three walks. The painful and embarrassing kicker is all seven of the Angels runs allowed in the bottom half of the seventh inning by Messrs Dennis Santana, Mitch White, and Garrett Cleavinger were unearned; the result of a two-out fielding error by catcher-to-replacement-second-baseman Austin Barnes.

Dodgers top outfield prospect DJ Peters collected his first MLB hit with this bloop double down the left-field line. Although the ball, which was nearly caught, initially appeared to be foul, a video review by umpires deemed it fair. And yes, the Glendora, CA native and Dodgers fourth-round draft pick in 2016 out of Western Nevada College in Carson City, NV, got the ball back.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

As for Kershaw, it is difficult to find words to describe the 33-year-old Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first-round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in Highland Park, TX that haven’t already been spoken or written; he was – yet again – lights out. In his five innings pitched, Kershaw allowed no runs and only two hits while walking one and striking out five, including Angels superstar outfielder and fellow future Hall of Famer Mike Trout in the bottom of the first inning – looking.

It’s not often you see future Hall of Famer Mike Trout take a third strike right down the middle. Then again, it is Clayton Kershaw we’re talking about here. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

Although the Dodgers most certainly are entitled to celebrate their first win in nearly a week, it would behoove them not to get too carried away with it. The brutal truth is that one win does not a winning streak make.

Now make it three, four, five in a row (etc.), that’s a different story.

Play Ball!

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3 Responses to “Dodgers End Losing Streak … Barely”

  1. Rosa Ackles Rosa Ackles says:

    @Dodgers Thought Kershaw should have been allowed to go 6.

  2. As I said a few days ago, I wish the Dodgers would’ve spread some of those runs around those close games that they lost. Getting them all in one game doesn’t help much.

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