Dodgers Drop Game But Take Series Over Marlins – 5/16/21

Dodgers Drop Game But Take Series Over Marlins – Game Recap – 5/16/21

Dodgers came into this game looking for a back-to-back series sweeps. For the first time since May went on the IL, the Dodgers had to go with a bullpen day. Nelson, who hadn’t pitched since Wednesday, was today’s opener, and while I was hoping to get a little bit more from him, his outing sufficed.  The game came down to an error and a single home run swing.  The Dodgers drop the the game but take the series over the Marlins.

Nelson Starts

Nelson came out of the game with two outs in the second after walking two batters that inning. He had only thrown more than 40 pitches in an outing once this season, so Roberts pulling him out at 41 made sense. Vesia came in and struck out the pitcher to end the inning. 

Neuse started the Dodger scoring when he doubled with one out in the bottom of the second. He wasn’t originally in the lineup, but 20 minutes before first pitch Taylor was scratched from the lineup with right wrist soreness. With Neuse on second, Barnes doubled him home and gave the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead. Betts gave them their second run of the game when his base hit drove home, Barnes.

Vesia came back out in the third inning and struck out two, and walk a batter. His day ended, and Santana came into pitch and got Duvall to fly out to end the inning. Santana gave up a one-out double in the fourth inning but did a good job stranding the runner keeping the Dodgers 2-0 lead intact. Uceta took over on the mound in the fifth, and unfortunately, the Dodgers lead wouldn’t make it through the inning. It didn’t help that the Marlins got the leadoff guy on after an error from Neuse. Chisholm Jr. singled, and with two down, Duvall crushed a ball to left field, putting the Marlins up 3-2.

Mookie Leaps But Out At Home

Duvall wound up hurting the Dodgers in the bottom half of the inning as well. Mookie led things off with a double, and Beaty singled to right field with two down and looked like he tied the game up. But with Duvall playing fairly shallow in right, he easily nails Mookie at the plate to end the inning. Mookie tried to jump over the catcher and tag home plate but was tagged out on his way up. Dodgers got the leadoff guy in scoring position to start the inning but couldn’t do anything with it. 

Uceta settled in and gave the Dodgers two more scoreless innings to get through the seventh. Kelly took over for the Dodgers in the eighth and was pitching in back-to-back games. He looked just as good today as he did last night, setting down the three batters he faced. With all of the injuries to the bullpen this year, a healthy Joe Kelly could be an important piece.

Mitch White got the mound in the ninth inning and continues to show he could be a useful arm in this pen. His 1-2-3 inning came with some help from Lux, who made a hell of a barehanded play to get the speedy Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the inning.

The Dodgers had the tying run on first in the ninth, but neither Smith nor Betts could find a way to bring him home. Dodgers snap their four-game winning streak and don’t get the back-to-back series sweep. But they do win the series, and the bullpen performed really well outside of the one bad inning from Edwin Uceta. The Dodgers might have dropped the game, but they take their series in a row from the Marlins. There’s plenty to be positive about heading into this next week of baseball.

The Diamondbacks head to town for a four-game series beginning tomorrow night at 7:10 PM PDT.

For last night’s game recap, click here.