Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On a beautiful Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, the best team in the National League met the second best team in the American League. Jack Flaherty battled through his six innings. The bullpen didn’t allow a run. The Dodgers didn’t muster enough offense. The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Baltimore Orioles 3-to-2, and they have a three-game lead over both the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Freddie Freeman was not in the lineup. His hairline fracture in the middle finger needs to calm down before he can play. Putting him on the 10-day IL is not an option because the finger wouldn’t heal in that period.
On nine pitches, Jack Flaherty pitched a perfect first inning.
Shohei Ohtani singled to open the game but was erased by a double play by Mookie Betts. The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensive.
Flaherty allowed a solo home run with an out in the second. He didn’t let anything else.
With an out in the second, Tommy Edman doubled and reached third on an error. Miguel Rojas had a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
With two outs in the third, Flaherty walked a batter. He allowed a single moving the runner to third. He stranded the runners.
Ohtani singled with two outs in the third, and Betts walked. Teoscar Hernández singled in Ohtani and moved Betts to second.
Flaherty fanned the side in the fourth.
The Dodgers went quietly in the fourth.
With an out in the fifth, Flaherty allowed a two-run homer. He allowed an infield single after being hit by a batted ball.
Kiké Hernández doubled to open the fifth. Chris Taylor walked. The Dodgers wasted a scoring opportunity.
Flaherty allowed a single and uncorked a wild pitch in the sixth. He didn’t allow a run.
Alex Vesia relieved Flaherty in the seventh. He walked the first batter to face him and another batter but stranded the runners.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the seventh.
Ryan Brasier relieved Vesia in the eighth. With two outs, he allowed a single but stranded the runner.
With one out in the eighth, Betts singled and stole second. The Dodgers stranded him.
Michael Kopech relieved Brasier in the ninth. With one out, Kopech walked a batter and uncorked a wild pitch. He escaped from the jam scorelessly.
Rojas singled with an out in the ninth. Kevin Kiermaier ran for Rojas. Max Muncy flied out. Gavin Lux pinch-hitting for Kiké Hernández walked. Taylor flied out.
