Defense Dooms the Dodgers Again in Loss to Phillies

Dodgers 3 7 2

Phillies 5 7 1

WP- Buchanan (1-0)

LP- Haren (5-3)

S- Papelbon (13)

HR- Utley (4)

The Dodgers were already disadvantaged going into the second game versus Philly on Saturday. Hanley Ramirez was scratched minutes before first pitch with a sore left calf. Arruebarrena took his place again at shortstop, and Erisbel later would pick up his first Major League base hit. The critical play of the game came when A.J. Ellis dropped a ball in the second inning on a foul pop up giving the Phillies two subsequent runs as Utley homered on the very next pitch. Haren also erred in the game, and the Dodgers’ defense continues to be their Achilles’ Heel.

Dan Haren wasn’t exactly fooling anyone in the first two innings, and Philly scored another two times in the second off back-to-back RBI singles

May 24, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) is congratulated by first baseman Ryan Howard (left) after hitting a two run home run in the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

from Revere and Rollins. The Phillies scored their fifth run in the fifth on a scoring groundball by Rollins.

The Dodgers were able to notch a run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. A Crawford scoring groundball, a Dee Gordon RBI single, and a triple by Puig and a passed ball by Ruiz in the sixth were the only Dodger runs. The rookie David Buchanan picked up his first Big League win while Haren is tagged for the loss.

David Buchanan, making his Major League debut, retires the Dodgers in order in the top of the first.

Ben Revere leads off the home half of the first with a double to right field. Jimmy Rollins pops out to A.J. Ellis in foul territory. A.J. Ellis drops the next foul pop by Chase Utley, and that error is very costly since Utley proceeds to homer after the at-bat continues. The wind will be an issue this game, and it didn’t help A.J with that catch. 2-0 Philadelphia. Haren strikes out Ryan Howard. Marlon Byrd doubles to center with two out. Dominic Brown flies out to right as Carl Crawford comes over battling the wind to grab it and end the inning in which Haren made 33 pitches.

Andre Ethier, who is playing center field for the second straight game over Matt Kemp, singles with two out in the second. A.J. Ellis flies out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second, Carlos Ruiz draws a lead-off walk. I’m okay with that since Ruiz is notorious for giving the Dodgers a bad time. Hernandez also walks. With Buchanan at the plate, A.J. Ellis makes a nice play to pick off Ruiz at second! Buchanan’s sacrifice bunt moves Hernandez to second, and Hernandez scores on a subsequent single from Revere. Revere takes second on the throw to home by Ethier. Rollins follows with a RBI single, and the Phillies now lead 4-0.

Erisbel Arruebarrena and Haren ground out and Dee Gordon strikes out in the third.

Haren strikes out the side in the bottom of the third fanning Howard, Byrd, and Brown. Very good, but is it too little too late?

Justin Turner leads off the fourth with a double over Revere’s head in center. Puig outruns Rollins’ spin and throw on a groundball to short, and he gets an infield single. Turner advances to third. Puig has now reached base in 25 straight games. Puig goes to second on a Gonzo grounder toward the mound. Turner comes in to score on a grounder to first which Howard dives in to first instead of trying to get the runner at home or third. 4-1.

Dan Haren pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fourth.

The Dodgers get back in to the game in the top of the fifth. Arruebarrena collects his first Major League hit, a single to center. Haren’s ground out moves Erisbel to second. Then Dee Gordon singles to left field allowing Erisbel to score! With Turner at the plate, a throwing error by the pitcher Buchanan on a pickoff attempt, allows Dee to scurry over to third. Unfortunately Turner strikes out, and Dee is stranded at third. The Dodgers pick up a run but trail 4-2.

The defense rears its ugly head again in the bottom of the fifth as Haren throws the ball wide of first after picking up a little nubber by Revere. Revere gets all the way to third as the ball rolls down to right field. Mattingly briefly argues, but the play goes down as a single and an error. Revere scores on a groundout by Jimmy Rollins, 5-2.

Jake Diekman takes over for Buchanan in the top of the sixth. David Buchanan pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts

Dan Haren picked up the loss on Saturday. Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

and no walks on 66 pitches in his MLB debut. Puig triples on a long fly ball to right field which Byrd misplays as the ball bounces off his glove as the outfielder backs up to the wall on the warning track. The replay showed the ball hit the wall before Byrd’s glove hence the scoring of a base hit instead of an error. Gonzo strikes out. Crawford hits a comebacker for the second out, and Puig has to stay at third. With Ethier at-bat, Puig is able to come home on a passed ball by Ruiz! It’s now 5-3.

Haren strikes out Byrd and Brown in the bottom of the sixth. Ruiz flies out to Puig, and that’s an easy 1-2-3 inning for Haren.

A.J. Ellis draws a lead-off walk against Diekman in the top of the seventh. Arruebarrena proceeds to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play. Matt Kemp will pinch-hit for Dan Haren, and he grounds out to third.

Dan Haren pitched 6 innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks on 115 pitches.

Paul Maholm will pitch in relief of Dan Haren for the bottom of the seventh. Other than a two-out single to Revere (his fourth hit of the game), Maholm retires the Phillies in the scoreless inning.

Mike Adams is in for the top of the eighth for the Phils. Gordon grounds out, Turner strikes out, and Puig grounds out in the 1-2-3 inning for Adams.

Maholm is in for his second inning of relief in the bottom of the eighth. Maholm strikes out Utley, Howard grounds out, but he hits Byrd with a pitch. Then Maholm is called for a balk, and Byrd is awarded second base. Former Dodger Tony Gwynn Jr. grounds out to first base to end the frame.

Jonathan Papelbon is in for the ninth to try to shut down the Dodgers and tie up the series. Gonzo flies out. Crawford grounds out to first. Ethier singles to left field with two out. That’s Dre’s second hit of the game, and the Dodgers are momentarily still alive. A.J. Ellis battles Papelbon to draw a walk. Scott Van Slyke will come up as the potential leading run. Van Slyke swings and goes down on strikes to end the game.

The bell doth toll for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers drop to 26-24 on the season. The series finale and rubber game on Sunday morning will feature Josh Beckett versus A.J. Burnett.