Dodgers Struggle Against Giants in 9-3 Loss

On Monday night, the Dodgers faltered once again.

With a loss of 9-3 to the San Francisco Giants, their offense seemed stuck in a rut.

This marked their 13th loss in just 22 games, and this time, the pitching staff didn’t provide much support. Aki Sasaki struggled to start, and even the usually reliable bullpen fell apart late in the game.

The turning point came in the seventh inning when the Giants pulled ahead, scoring three runs off Alex Beshear, who had only allowed two runs all season before this game.

Beshear gave up three consecutive hits with one out, and then walked Rafael Devers on a full count, allowing the go-ahead run.

Will Klein came in to relieve him, trying to fix the situation. But then he hit a sweeper that Willie Adames, facing a two-strike, two-out count, sent over the right-field fence for a two-run homer, sealing the Dodgers’ fate.

This unexpected collapse was unusual for the Dodgers’ relief team, which had entered the game with the fourth-best ERA in the league.

Given the recent dismal performance of the Dodgers’ batting lineup, even with Mookie Betts back from an oblique strain — he went 1-for-5 — it just wasn’t enough to keep the game competitive.

The game went back and forth until that decisive seventh inning.

The Giants (17-24) got on the board first in the second inning, thanks to a solo homer by Devers, who connected on a hanging splitter after a tough eight-pitch at-bat against Sasaki.

Turning the tide, the Dodgers (24-17) fought back in the fourth by scoring two runs while the bases were loaded.

While the Giants regained the lead in the sixth, Sasaki had initially performed well, having allowed only three runs in five innings. He managed to retire eight batters in a row after escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third. However, his performance deteriorated in the sixth, where he yielded three consecutive hits, including a two-run double from Heriot Ramos.

The Dodgers’ narrow 3-2 lead vanished quickly. In the sixth inning, Max Muncy hit his 11th homer of the season, the team’s highest, giving the Dodgers a temporary boost.

But ultimately, the Giants reclaimed the top spot in the standings.

Once the Giants rallied, the Dodgers failed to respond.

Implications

The Dodgers have been arguing that their inconsistency is something many teams face during a long 162-game season.

However, with each disappointing game, such as Monday’s, it becomes increasingly challenging to maintain that perspective. Concerns are beginning to mount.

Concerns About Offense

The pressing issue remains their inability to score effectively. In Monday’s game, they recorded 10 hits, but managed only three extra-base hits. Their struggles have been evident, as they’ve performed poorly with runners in scoring position, going just 2-for-10 in this game alone.

Over the last 12 games, they have scored three or fewer runs in nine of them, losing eight of those matches.

Adding to their troubles, they now find themselves in second place in the National League West, half a game behind the Padres.

Players to Watch

Teoscar Hernandez seems to be bouncing back after a slump.

He had been batting just .196 over 26 games and hadn’t hit a home run since April 21. Manager Dave Roberts moved him down to the No. 8 spot in the order, hoping for a spark.

Hernandez quickly delivered, hitting a double in the third inning and finishing 2-for-3, also making a notable sliding catch in left field on the first pitch of the game.

Struggles for Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani hasn’t found his rhythm yet.

Even after another round of batting practice before the game, he went 0-for-5, extending his slump to 4-for-38 over 11 games.

Two of those outs came during crucial situations with a runner on second, but he grounded out twice. His issues pulling the ball have severely affected his power, as he’s hit only one home run in his last 107 at-bats.

His batting average has dipped to .233, with an OPS of .767, marking his worst performance in late-season play since 2022.

Looking Ahead

The Dodgers and Giants will continue their four-game series on Tuesday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-2, 3.09 ERA) taking the mound against right-hander Adrian Hauser (0-4, 6.19 ERA).