Dodgers Smacked Down Hard in Loss to Angels – 5/7/21
Dodgers Smacked Down Hard in Loss to Angels – Game Recap 5/7/21
Dodgers had the day off on Thursday before heading to Anaheim for a three-game series against the Angels. Urías got the start, and the last time he was on the mound was when the Dodgers picked up their last win against the Brewers on Sunday. Dodgers were looking for another big outing from Urías, but unfortunately, they didn’t get it this time. In fact, the Angels smacked the Dodgers down hard and never let up.
Things looked like they might be off to a good start for the Dodgers in the first inning. With Seager on second and Turner at first with two outs, Smith had a chance to get the Dodgers on the board. But, instead, Seager got caught flat-footed at second base and was picked off to end the inning. It was yet another error on Seager’s part that potentially cost the Dodgers runs.
Smith led off the second inning with a walk and Pollock doubled with one out. This put runners on second and third with only one out. Beaty grounded out, but it was enough to drive home a run giving the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Lux popped out and stranded the runner at third, but the Dodgers had an early run on the board. The lead felt suitable, at least for the time being.
The Lead Slips Away
That good feeling only lasted a few minutes as Upton led off the bottom of the second with a solo shot tying the game up right after the Dodgers took the lead. It only ended up getting worse from here. After retiring the next two batters, Ward homered to center field, and the Angels were now up 2-1. Urías hit Rojas, and then old friend Drew Butera doubled, putting two in scoring position for Fletcher, who singled both home, giving the Angels a 4-1 lead. Urías got Ohtani to fly out, and the inning was over. He gave up one more run in the fifth after Ohtani doubled home Fletcher and the Angels had a 5-1 lead.
After an impressive outing last week, it felt like a punch in the gut seeing the Urías we all saw tonight. Instead of his first-inning struggles, we all got familiar with last season. The second inning got the best of him tonight. He didn’t walk anyone in tonight’s outing, which has been a vast improvement for him this season. But he did struggle with his command leaving fastballs down the middle on more than one occasion. The starting rotation has been nails all season, and they’re bound to have their off nights. With the way things have been going for the offense and bullpen when the starting pitcher doesn’t have a good night, there isn’t much to enjoy in these games. Guys won’t be on every night, and unfortunately, that’s how tonight went for Urías.
Bullpen Digs The Hole Deeper
Joe Kelly made his 2021 season debut after missing the start of the season, recovering from shoulder surgery to remove a cyst. Things did not go well for Kelly at all. Iglesias led off the sixth inning with a base hit and got Ward to ground out right after. With one down and a runner at second, Rojas doubled, giving the Angels a 6-1 lead. And the Angels were just getting started. Kelly surrendered three more runs on three extra-base hits before his night came to an end. Oh, and AJ Pollock came out of the game limping trying to get to Trout’s single that turned into a triple. So not only did Kelly get blown up in his debut, the Dodgers are possibly looking at adding yet another player to the IL. Uceta came into finish up the inning for Kelly, walked Upton, and then struck out Walsh looking to end the inning.
Mookie homered in the ninth, getting the Dodgers on the board for the first time since the second inning. But that’s all the Dodgers could find in their bats against the last-place Angels losing 9-2. Now dropping four straight and falling to 17-16 on the season. It’s hard to find much of anything positive going for the Dodgers right now.
They’ll try to turn things around tomorrow night with Kershaw on the mound with the first pitch at 6:07 PM PDT.
For Wednesday’s game recap, click here.
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