June 24-27. Slumping Dodgers open a 4-game series vs. hot Cubs.
Game 1- Oh no! No-no! Dodgers get 8 walks but NO runs or hits. A combined no-hitter, with closer Kimbrel finishing with 2 K’s. So it didn’t matter that Buehler was the 4th straight pitcher to give up a homer in the 1st inning. Dodgers lose 4-0. MLB stats: this is the 7th no-hitter in MLB so far this season, 1 shy of the record for a full season (set in 1884!). And the 2nd time in a week the Dodgers got shut out, after nearly 2 years.
Game 2- Dodgers win! Dodgers win! First time in 5 games, and first win over Cubs this season. Boy, we needed that 6-2 win.
Yet another 1st inning home run given up (4 in a row!), on a BP center cut pitch. But then Gonsolin went to work with his off speed pitches, especially his splitter/change, giving the Dodgers 4 good innings. Then the bullpen was just good enough.
Dodgers offense sputtered until the 8th, after a good start (1 in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd). Dodgers left bases loaded in the 3rd, and again in the 5th, with 2 more LOB in the 6th. Zip in the 7th. But then in the 8th the Dodger bats woke up with a pair of 2-run homers by AJ and Muncy, to extend a lead to 6-2.
Game 3- A Belli bomb! Boy have we missed that. Our first walk off win of the year too: 3-2. Urias had a very strong performance with a career high 12 K’s over only 5 innings. The Dodgers again scored 2 early and then stalled, this time until the 9th.
Game 4- All K-K-Kershaw, with 13 K’s (12 on his slider). Kersh had his slider going great today, with pinpoint location. Unhittable pitch when he keeps it down. Kersh went a dominant 8 innings, with 1 run.
Dodger offense did the damage in a 6-run 2nd, with McKinstry slugging his 1st ever salami. Tack on another Belli bomb. Dodgers ride out this big inning for a 7-1 victory and series win (3/4).