The All-Star break all of a sudden looks more and more like something the Dodgers need, as they suffered a second blowout loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in as many nights, 9-2 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
Simply losing consecutive games has been rare for the Dodgers, as this marked just their second two-game losing streak in the last two months. But to lose consecutively in blowout fashion is even more rare, as they followed up Friday’s 9-3 loss with a defeat by seven runs on Saturday.
The
Dodgers have lost by six or more runs only eight times this season — they’ve won 22 such games, for comparison — and never consecutively before now. The only other similar streak came from May 9-12, when the Dodgers lost four straight games by five, five, six, and four runs.
For a while, this looked more like a typical game, especially for Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who entered the sixth inning having allowed only one run, with the Dodgers trailing 1-0. But Arizona tacked on five runs in the frame, punctuated by a three-run home run by catcher James McCann.
Six runs allowed is a season high for Yamamoto, who will head to Philadelphia for All-Star festivities but will not pitch in the game. His four walks matched a season high.
Landon Knack, called up to eat innings after Friday’s bullpen game, soaked up the last three innings and allowed three runs of his own, including another home run by McCann.
Saturday particulars
Home runs: James McCann 2 (2); Nolan Arenado (12)
WP — Brandon Pfaadt (3-1): 5 1/3 IP, 6 hits, 2 runs, 2 strikeouts
LP — Yoshinobu Yamamoto (9-6): 6 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 4 walks, 6 strikeouts
Up next
One more game remains before the All-Star break, with Emmet Sheehan starting on the mound on Sunday (1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Mitch Bratt expected to pitch for the Diamondbacks.
