Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025
On a beautiful Wednesday night for April at Wrigley Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Chicago Cubs 7-to-6. Since Blake Snell was on the IL, the Dodgers were forced to have a bullpen game. Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández provided the offense.
Before the game, Blake Snell was scheduled to throw off the mound but couldn’t. While playing catch on flat ground, Snell felt something in his left shoulder. The Dodgers will slow play him and perhaps will get some imaging on Snell’s troublesome shoulder.
Will Smith couldn’t play because he injured his wrist while tagging a runner out. He hopes to play on Friday, but if he can’t, the Dodgers might get some imaging.
Before Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers have used their bullpen the most in the major leagues. The relievers have shown signs of fatigue. The Dodgers must have their starters go longer in the game. Hopefully, next Tuesday or Wednesday, Tony Gonsolin can return to the major leagues after having Tommy John surgery in August 2023.
In the third, Teoscar Hernández had a two-run single.
Ben Casparius was fantastic for 2.2 innings, throwing 40 pitches. With the wind blowing in, Casparius struck out 4 and didn’t walk anyone.
Anthony Banda relieved Casparius and performed satisfactorily for 0.2 innings.
Noah Davis relieved Banda in the fourth inning and allowed a three-run homer.
In the fifth with two outs, Mookie Betts singled in the tying run, and then, Teoscar Hernández blasted a two-run homer.
Jack Dreyer allowed the Cubs to score the tying and go-ahead runs in the fifth.
In the sixth, Andy Pages homered. Michael Conforto singled and went to third on Austin Barnes’ double. Shohei Ohtani couldn’t bring Conforto home.
Kirby Yates was perfect in the sixth.
Evan Phillips struggled in the seventh but didn’t allow any runs.
Luis Garcia relieved Phillips in the eighth but allowed a single. He got out of the jam scorelessly.
