Tarik Skubal, the pitcher everyone was talking about after that controversial deadline deal, just made his Dodgers debut and it was a tough one. His new team fell 5-1 to the Cubs, pushing Los Angeles’ season-high losing streak to a brutal five games. That’s a serious gut punch, especially when you’re bringing in big talent to turn things around.
Skubal Pitched Better Than the Score Shows, But Wow, That Defense!
Honestly, Skubal wasn’t the problem here, even though he took the loss. He put in a solid six innings, giving up just two earned runs on four hits. He fanned six batters and walked two. He even froze Pete Crow-Armstrong for his very first strikeout as a Dodger! The first run was a solo homer from Dansby Swanson, a no-doubter that was just a great swing in conditions ripe for long balls. What are you gonna do? Swanson just beat him on that one, his 17th of the year.
The second run, though, that one is harder to hang on Skubal. He punched out Crow-Armstrong to start the sixth, then Seiya Suzuki walked. Alex Bregman then hit a deep fly to right that *should* have been caught going into the wall. Kyle Tucker whiffed on it. They didn’t rule it an error, sure, but a lot of MLB right fielders make that play. With runners then on second and third, Skubal got two grounders. One saw Suzuki thrown out at home, but the next one? That ball bounced absurdly high, got over Skubal’s head, and just hung there long enough for an infield hit to score the go-ahead run. You just cannot make this stuff up! Skubal only allowed two balls to be hit hard all night: that Swanson homer and Bregman’s double. He got 13 whiffs on 43 swings, escaped a jam in the third, and almost got out of the sixth, too. That’s a good outing, man.
Where Was the Offense? And the Cubs Just Kept Piling On
The real killer here was the Dodgers’ offense, or the complete lack thereof, while Skubal was on the mound. Kyle Tucker hit a homer in the second inning, and that was it for support. Cubs starter Javier Assad navigated traffic a few times, but their excellent infield turned two double plays, and he pitched really well. Meanwhile, those Cubs are no joke; they’re 64-49 and holding onto the top NL Wild Card spot.
After Skubal left, the Cubs kept pouring it on, adding two more in the seventh. Swanson hit a double, Crow-Armstrong singled him home, then stole second before Suzuki drove him in. The Cubs bullpen, including newly acquired Ryan Zeferjahn, totally shut down the Dodgers’ offense. And just to rub salt in the wound, Hoerner went deep later on.
The Dodgers are 69-45, but five losses in a row is a rough look. They need to find some answers at the plate and tighten up that defense if they want to get out of this slump. Every game matters right now, and they need to bounce back strong after this tough debut for Skubal.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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