The Los Angeles Dodgers hit the wall hard in the Bronx, dropping the second half of a doubleheader to the New York Yankees 2-1. After grinding through 18 innings in one day, it was clear that sheer exhaustion, or maybe just some Bronx magic, got the better of them.
Doubleheader Fatigue and an Old Foe’s Bite
Talk about a marathon. Both teams had their aces battle earlier, so by Sunday night, it was a bullpen free-for-all. While the Dodgers got on the board first in the initial game, an old foe, Cody Bellinger, showed up big for the Yankees. He smacked an RBI single against Will Klein in the bottom of the first, putting New York up 1-0. For most of the game, the Dodgers’ bats were just quiet. They managed a measly three hits against the Yankees’ bullpen through seven innings. Seriously, three hits? That’s tough, even after a full day of baseball.
Clutch Moment, Then Crushed Dreams
Just when you thought it was over, Tommy Edman delivered. He blasted a Fernando Cruz sinker in the top of the eighth, his first homer of the season from the left side and his first in a regular MLB ballpark this year, tying the game up. Pure clutch, right? Not so fast. The Yankees, fueled by that Bronx crowd, had other plans. Jazz Chisholm Jr. stepped up against Evan Phillips in the bottom of the eighth and launched an opposite-field, go-ahead home run, giving New York a one-run lead once more. David Bednar then came in to slam the door shut in the ninth, earning the save and stopping the Dodgers from what would have been a sweep.
Dodgers’ Offense Goes Missing
While some guys stepped up, the Dodgers’ big bats were strangely quiet all weekend. Mookie Betts went completely hitless over the three games. Oof. Freddie Freeman didn’t fare much better, going 1-9 with six strikeouts, including a three-punch-out performance on Friday. It makes you wonder what’s going on in those bats. On a brighter note, Eliézer Alfonzo snagged his first career big league hit with a single in the third, finishing 1-2 before a pinch-hit. Old friend Ryan Yarbrough opened for the Yankees, giving up just two hits and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings. Out of the Dodgers bullpen, Brock Stewart and Kyle Hurt actually looked good, combining for four no-hit innings with three strikeouts and two walks.
This tough loss against the Yankees means the Dodgers avoided a sweep, but it was still a brutal way to end the day. Now, they’ve got to shake it off and get ready for a new series on Monday. They’re heading to Philadelphia for a three-game set against the Phillies. Emmet Sheehan is slated to take the mound for the Dodgers at 4:10 p.m. PT. They really need to find their groove again, especially with those big bats waking up, because a performance like this won’t cut it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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