The Dodgers Offense get Uncoordinated by Travis Wood and the Cubs

Dodgers 2 7 2
Cubs       3 9 1

WP: Travis Wood (8-10)
LP: Clayton Kershaw (13-8)
S: Kevin Gregg (27)

A day after the Dodgers offense waking up to score 6 runs against the Cubs, tonight the Dodgers offense were utterly uncoordinated. Facing Cubs left hander Travis Wood, who threw for 7 innings and gave up no runs, 5 hits and 2 walks. Wood hit a single in the 3rd inning, then second baseman Darwin Barney got on base due to a catcher’s interference, and former Dodger catcher Dioner Navarro, singled to center to score Wood from second with Barney moving over to third on the single, making 1-0 Cubs. Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw got out of the jam, keeping it 1-0. Kershaw, who had thrown 29 pitches in the first inning, got into another jam in the sixth, with runners on first and third with two outs, Kershaw gave up a single to left to Cubs’ shortstop Starlin Castro, making it 2-0. Kershaw was then done for the night, with Dodgers reliever Brian Wilson coming into the 6th inning to strike out Barney, only needing four pitches. Ramirez singled and tagged up from first to second on a deep fly ball to the gap in center and right. Third baseman Juan Uribe then singled to right with Ramirez scoring from second to make it , 2-1. Cubs score again on Dodgers reliever Ronald Belisario, making it 3-1, scoring with the bases loaded on a double play. The Dodgers score again in the 8th inning with Ramirez, who got on a bloop single to right and second baseman Mark Ellis getting hit by a pitch, scoring on a single to center by center fielder Andre Ethier. The score was cut down to down one run, 3-2. Final score was 3-2 with Cubs closer, Kevin Gregg, who could have made the Dodgers team out of spring training, getting his 27th save of season.

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Kershaw finished the game with 5 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since April. On a decent night like this for Kershaw, who didn’t completely bring his A game, still pitched decent enough to keep the Dodgers in the game. Kershaw gave up 2 runs, 1 earned, on 7 hits and 3 walks, but had 9 strike outs, keeping his ERA at 1.72. I think what hurt Kershaw was throwing 29 pitches in the first inning, the three walks AND the offense. For some reason, offense can’t seem to get coordinated when Kershaw pitches.

Half of the Dodger’s 7 hits were from shortstop Ramirez and right fielder Yasiel Puig. Ramirez had three hits and went 3-4 with an average of .345 and Puig had two hits, going 2 for 5 with an average of .347. Uribe and Ethier each had a hit and a RBI apiece. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez went 0 for 4 tonight with 2 strike outs and is currently having a tough series so far, going 0 for 10 with four strike outs. Gonzalez, who has been consistent throughout the entire season keeping the team in the each game, is not quite himself right now. I expect Gonzalez to break out of the slump tomorrow afternoon. The Dodgers basically gave this game to the Cubs, so I expect the Dodgers to rebound tomorrow and come out of the series with a win and so they can feel good about themselves when the San Diego Padres come into town on Friday.

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The most important thing the Dodgers team need right now is the fans. The Dodgers hit the 3 million fan attendance mark this season for the first time since 2008, when the Dodgers were still owned by the McClowns. Despite having broken that mark, that is not what I meant by the fans attending the game, I mean, the fans getting into the game, start to REALLY support, cheer and be LOUD in the game. By being loud, it will distract the other team and they will start to get annoyed and uncoordinated and fall apart in the game. The Dodgers will then flow with that momentum and follow the fans lead, and the offense WILL wake up and take advantage of it and get a win. It is up to the fans at the Dodgers Stadium to get that momentum going early and carry it throughout the game. The Dodgers sure could use that momentum, and go on a winning streak and carry it into September and hopefully into deep October.

Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Tomorrow, it will be Ricky Nolasco vs former Dodger, Edwin Jackson. Nolasco is coming off a really great start against the Boston Red Sox, throwing 8 innings and also threw a 2 hitter. Nolasco as a Dodger, sports a record of (5-1) and an ERA of 2.51. While, Jackson comes in with a record of (7-13) and 5.00 ERA. Dodgers will be playing at 12:10 pm PST on Prime and radio 570. Let’s rebound, Dodgers! GO BLUE!