Dustin May did his part but the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t back him with run support and Alex Vesia surrendered a crucial home run in their 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
May was nothing short of impressive in his first start of the season, getting an opportunity to take the ball between Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw because the Dodgers wanted to split up their left-handers.
The Diamondbacks threatened early behind Corbin Carroll’s double with one out in the second inning, but May retired the next two batters faced. He didn’t allow another hit until Christian Walker singled with one out in the fourth.
May got through six shutout innings on an efficient 73 pitches and ultimately got through seven for the longest start in his career. Friday marked the first time May so much as recorded an out in the seventh inning.
May let out a yell after ending the seventh with a strikeout, displaying the type of emotion Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave him credit for better harnessing rather than becoming consumed by it.
Although the May turned in a stellar outing, he wound up not factoring into the decision and was left with a tough-luck outing as the Dodgers lineup failed to generate much traction against Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks bullpen for much of the night.
Kelly was chased in the fourth inning due to issuing four walks on top of allowing three hits, but he held the Dodgers scoreless.
The scoreless battle was broken up in the bottom of the seventh when Mookie Betts connected on a solo home run. The homer was Betts’ first of the season and his only hit on the night.
Dodgers bullpen falters
Vesia fared remarkably well against right-handed batters last season but gave up a pinch-hit double to Evan Longoria followed by a pinch-hit home run to Kyle Lewis in the eighth inning. Vesia later allowed a base hit and was removed with two outs.
The Dodgers had the tying and go-ahead runners reach base in the bottom of the eighth, but Miguel Rojas’ line drive was hit right to Nick Ahmed.
After Caleb Ferguson kept the Dodgers within a run, Betts’ leadoff walk turned into a force out and Freddie Freeman was ultimately stranded at second base.
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