Dodgers Opposite Field Approach Sinks Gallen, Diamondbacks
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The D-backs offense sputtered, the ace faded, and the bullpen stumbled
The Dodgers served noticed on opening night that reports of their demise were greatly exaggerated as the Diamondbacks fell 8 to 2 with ace Zac Gallen on the mound.
Things started off well enough for Arizona as they managed single runs in both the first and second innings on three hits and a hit by pitch against Julio Urias. Christian Walker had an RBI single and Nick Ahmed scored on a Gabriel Moreno sacrifice fly after doubling down the line in the second. Spotted the 2-0 lead, Gallen looked like he was going to have a typical sharp night.
Striking out three batters in the first inning around a two out double by Will Smith, and then recording a quick 1-2-3 in the second he seemed well on his way. He was hitting 94 with his fastball and the curve was landing. But a leadoff walk to start the third came back to bite him. Miguel Rojas hit the first of many opposite field hits, giving LA second and third with nobody out. Gallen almost got out of it striking out Mookie Betts for the second time and getting Freddie Freeman to line out to shortstop. But Smith dunked a base hit into right field, scoring both runners and tying up the game.
A walk and three more base hits in the fifth chased Gallen from the game. Smith had another RBI single to right, as did J.D. Martinez. Gallen’s velocity had dropped to 90-91 and he just was not able to stop the Dodgers from making contact at that point. Of the six hits Gallen gave up, five were to the opposite field. He also walked three batters while striking out seven.
Torey Lovullo conceded that Gallen’s stuff began to fade during that last inning. He noted that his stuff started to look “loose” when pitching to Will Smith in the fifth. For his part Gallen seemed most disappointed in the walks and also noted that he might have felt a little gassed with the faster pace of the game.
Gallen ended up being charged with a fifth run when Cole Sulser came in to relieve with two outs and promptly gave up an RBI base hit to David Peralta. Adding insult to injury, Peralta made the freight train pull motion, which could not have made his ex teammates happy.
Sulser went on to give up a two run homer to James Outman in the 6th before being relieved by Kyle Nelson with the Dodgers already ahead 7-2. The Dodgers tacked on another run against Carlos Vargas in the 8th.
Julio Urias meanwhile got stronger as the game went on. After the three hits and two runs in the first two innings, he did not allow another hit until the 6th. Ketel Marte singled to right but an ill advised attempt to run on Mookie Betts and stretch it to a double resulted in an out. Urias did not walk a batter and struck out six.
Lovullo’s big lineup decision did not pay off tonight. Kyle Lewis got the start in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career, and struck out in his first three at bats and popped out to the catcher in his final chance. Lovullo did not feel there was an issue with his approach however and emphasized it was just one game. Evan Longoria and Lourdes Gurriel Jr both hit into 5-4-3 double plays snuffing out rallies. With a right hander in the game in the 7th, Lovullo declined to pinch hit for Longoria with left hand batter Josh Rojas. Prior to the game Lovullo talked about pinch hitting and matchups, but never pulled that trigger.
There was a strange side note to this game. Several times during the game the Dodgers turned down the lights during the D-backs pitcher’s between inning warmups. The first time was during a ceremony for a veteran prior to the bottom of the 2nd. Gallen noticed it and said he was somewhat shocked and wondered if it’s something that MLB would allow going forward. Then it happened again in the bottom of the 8th with Vargas warming up. He stopped warming and motioned to the umpire that he couldn’t warm up in the dark. Asked about it after the game, Torey Lovullo said he wasn’t too pleased about it and the issue would be raised with the front office.
Kevin Ginkel was also warned for a quick pitch against Will Smith, and then later ended up getting called for a quick pitch ball. Ginkel did not agree with the umpires call and felt the batter was alert to him, as they’d made eye contact.
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