Noah Syndergaard’s struggles doom Dodgers in loss: ‘Just poor execution’
PHOENIX — Every time the Dodgers’ offense inched a small step forward Saturday night, their pitching staff quickly took a disastrous step back.
That was the story of the team’s 12-8 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, in which the Dodgers squandered an early four-run lead and failed to capitalize on an 11-hit, five-walk display from their lineup.
Noah Syndergaard was the main culprit, yielding six runs in a four-inning outing derailed by two-out rallies and center-cut changeups. The bullpen wasn’t much better, combining for six earned runs to extinguish any late-game comeback bid.
Clayton Kershaw gave up back-to-back home runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-3 loss Friday night.
“I thought we swung the bats well,” manager Dave Roberts said. “But it seemed like every [pitcher] we were running out there, we couldn’t put up a zero.”
After the Dodgers scored four runs in the first inning punctuated by a home run from James Outman — who is batting .348 with nine RBIs — Syndergaard quickly gave Arizona the lead back.
In the bottom of the first, he yielded back-to-back doubles. Then in the second, he gave up a pair of two-run homers with two outs in the inning, leaving a fastball elevated to Geraldo Perdomo and a changeup over the plate to Ketel Marte.
That wasn’t the only time Syndergaard’s reliance on his fastball (which averaged only 93 mph) and changeup (which lacked the bite and command) backfired Saturday, as the right-hander went away from the slider-sinker plan that helped him cruise against the Diamondbacks (5-4) in Los Angeles earlier this season.
“Just poor execution with my pitches,” Syndergaard said. “They capitalized on just about every single one of my mistakes, and it was difficult for me to find a rhythm. Just a super disappointing outing. Especially when the offense comes out like that in the beginning of the game.”
But the Dodgers (5-4) stayed close for a while.
Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies issued three straight walks in the fourth inning, plating a run on the last one with the bases loaded.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been far from dominant early this season, but manager Dave Roberts says it’s encouraging the group is still productive.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman then hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth — part of a four-hit night for Freeman, whose .429 batting average leads the team — to cut Arizona’s lead to 7-6.
But the Dodgers’ bullpen imploded. Alex Vesia gave up a run in the fifth, Brusdar Graterol was charged with two in the sixth, and Andre Jackson yielded three in the seventh.
“It’s been different,” Roberts said of the early struggles from the bullpen, which has a 4.82 ERA over the first nine games.
“We’ve talked about it, and they’re gonna work through it,” Roberts added. “They’re working through it right now. But the league’s not gonna wait for you. So you still gotta perform while you’re trying to figure things out.”
On Saturday, however, they didn’t in the Dodgers’ most frustrating loss of the young season.
Dodgers can’t keep pace with Diamondbacks in 12-8 loss
⚾ Diamondbacks 12, Dodgers 8 — FINAL
In the ninth, Will Smith plated Freddie Freeman on a single off Diamondbacks reliever Luis Frias to cut down Arizona’s lead, but it was too little, too late to save the Dodgers from their first consecutive loss of the season.
Freeman led off the inning with his fourth hit tonight — a double off the wall in center — before Smith singled to center.
Frias struck out Max Muncy for the first out before a 6-4-3 double play on a grounder hit by J.D. Martinez ended the game.
Jason Heyward hits his third homer of the season
⚾ Diamondbacks 12, Dodgers 7 — End of the eighth
Jason Heyward hit his third home run of the season — this one off the right-field foul pole — to cut into the Diamondbacks’ lead.
Heyward’s home run ended Scott McGough’s relief stint, with Luis Frias taking over.
Like Heyward, James Outman, Will Smith and Trayce Thompson all have three home runs on the season.
The Arizona hit parade continues in the seventh inning
⚾ Diamondbacks 12, Dodgers 6 — Seventh inning
Geraldo Perdomo, Josh Rojas and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each drove in runs off Dodgers reliever Andre Jackson to give the Diamondbacks a commanding lead.
Perdomo plated Alek Thomas on a two-out double into the right field corner. Rojas then singled to center to score Perdomo. Gurriel then singled to left to drive in Rojas, who easily beat James Outman’s throw home from left field. Will Smith then gunned out Gurriel after he tried to take second.
Thomas has three singles and a triple after entering the game 0 for 16 at the plate. Arizona has 17 hits on the night.
Brusdar Graterol gives up two runs in the sixth
⚾ Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 6 — End of the sixth inning
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a run-scoring triple and Christian Walker drove in a run on sacrifice fly to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead in the sixth.
Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol immediately ran into trouble upon entering the game, giving up a double to Josh Rojas before Ketel Marte reached on a fielder’s choice. Marte scored on Gurriel’s triple and Gurriel scored on Walker’s sacrifice fly to center.
Freddie Freeman helps make it a one-run game
⚾ Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 6 — Sixth inning
Freddie Freeman hit a run-scoring double off just under home-run line in straightaway center to make it a one-run game again.
Mookie Betts scored on Freeman’s hit after hitting a two-out double. Arizona reliever Kevin Ginkel was then called for the first balk of his career on what could have been a called third strike on Freeman. Three pitches later, Freeman drove in Betts from third on a 426-foot hit.
Diamondbacks tack on another run in the fifth inning
⚾ Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 5 — End of the fifth
Alek Thomas hit a run-scoring single — his third hit of the game — off Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead.
Corbin Carroll scored on the play after reaching base on a single and stealing second.
In the top of the inning, Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies left the game with a strained left oblique after striking out Will Smith. Davies appeared to be in some pain as he walked off the field under his own power.
J.D. Martinez hit a double to right field off Arizona reliever Kyle Nelson, but a potential two-out rally disappeared when Miguel Vargas lined into a force out at second.
Dodgers cut into Diamondbacks’ lead with a bases-loaded walk
⚾Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 5 — End of the fourth
Mookie Betts drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk off Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies to cut into Arizona’s lead.
After J.D. Martinez found a low pitch from Davies and sent it to the left-field wall for an easy double, Jason Hayward and Chris Taylor drew walks to load the bases. Martinez scored on Betts’ walk.
A sliding grab by Arizona center fielder Alek Thomas on a liner hit by Freddie Freeman prevented the Dodgers from tying the game.
Davies threw 14 balls over his last 16 pitches of the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Noah Syndergaard hit Lourdes Gurriel Jr. with pitch on two outs. Christian Walker then grounded into a force out at second.
Syndergaard is done for the night. He allowed eight hits and six earned runs over four innings and 72 pitches.
Noah Syndergaard’s struggles continue in the third inning
⚾ Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 4 — End of the third
Gabriel Moreno hit a run-scoring single off Noah Syndergaard to extend the Diamondbacks’ lead in the third inning.
Corbin Carroll scored on Moreno’s single to center field. Carroll was hit by a pitch, then stole second before scoring.
Syndergaard, who struck out Geraldo Perdomo to end the inning, has allowed six earned runs and eight hits on 55 pitches.
Diamondbacks strike back with a pair of two-run home runs
⚾ Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 4 — End of the second inning
Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte each hit two-run home runs off Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard to thrust Arizona into the lead.
Perdomo’s blast to right field scored Alek Thomas, who tripled off Syndergaard. Marte’s first homer of 2023 drove in Josh Rojas, who singled on a liner to right.
Syndergaard has allowed five runs and six hits on 33 pitches.
In the top of the inning, Diamondbacks pitcher Zach Davies retired the Dodgers on five pitches.
Diamondbacks get on the board with back-to-back doubles
⚾ Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 1 — End of the first
Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit back-to-back doubles off Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard to get Arizona on the board.
Marte, who led off Friday with a double, sent a liner down the left-field line before Gurriel sent a shot down the right-field line to score Marte.
Christian Walker and Corbin Carroll grounded out to cap the inning.
James Outman hits a two-run home run as part of big first inning
⚾ Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 0 — First inning
James Outman hit a two-run home run off Arizona starter Zach Davies to help give the Dodgers an sizable early lead.
Outman’s 423-foot home run to right-center field was his third homer of the season.
Earlier in the inning, Max Muncy hit a run-scoring single and J.D. Martinez drove in another run on a sacrifice fly.
Muncy drove in Freddie Freeman, who reached based on a single off Davies. Will Smith, who drew a walk, scored on Martinez’s fly ball.
Miguel Rojas (groin) on track to play Sunday
PHOENIX — The Dodgers seem to finally have a firm return date for Miguel Rojas.
After the shortstop missed this past week with a groin injury, manager Dave Roberts said he expects to have Rojas back in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale. Rojas will then get a day off Monday to recover, before going back in the lineup Tuesday.
Chris Taylor has been filling in for Rojas at shortstop this week, settling in nicely to a position he hardly played last year while battling arm troubles.
Despite that, though, Roberts said he still expects Rojas to get the “majority” of playing time at shortstop once he’s fully healthy, meaning Taylor will return to his utility role cycling through the outfield, third base and shortstop on days Rojas gets off.
Here is the Dodgers full lineup for Saturday:
Clayton Kershaw’s 400th career start marred by back-to-back homers
PHOENIX — Over the course of 400 career starts, Clayton Kershaw was bound to develop a few bad trends.
And as he reached his latest milestone moment Friday night, becoming just the 34th pitcher in big league history to make 400 starts with the same team, one of his shortcomings returned.
As has been the case in most of his 22 trips to Chase Field, Kershaw struggled in the desert in a 6-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In six innings, the left-hander gave up four runs and seven hits. It was the last two, however, that left him shaking his head.
Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
