The Los Angeles Dodgers began their road trip with a disappointing loss against the Houston Astros where nothing went right for them, dropping the game 5-0.
The Dodgers could not get anything going against Framber Valdez, who pitched 6.1 shutout innings while giving up four hits, striking out 10 and walking two.
In total, they went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left seven runners on base, including bases loaded opportunities and ones with runners at the corners. They also struck out 15 times in the game.
As for Gavin Stone, he was solid but inconsistent, allowing four runs over six innings on nine hits with three strikeouts to two walks.
The Astros’ first run came in the second inning when Joey Loperfido singled home Jeremy Peña following a walk and single earlier in the frame.
In the third, Alex Bregman homered to double their lead, 2-0. The score was once again doubled when Jon Singleton blasted a two-run homer following a double from Peña in the fourth inning.
The Astros added some insurance against Ryan Yarbrough in the eighth inning with a pair of doubles to put them up by five.
The Dodgers nearly scored a run in the seventh inning, but a pair of baserunning blunders cost them. Miguel Vargas and Kiké Hernández started the inning with singles, and they should have capitalized with a chance to keep the rally going when Gavin Lux singled as well.
However, Hernández ran past second base and was tagged out, ending both the inning and the rally with a notable mistake. Vargas should have still scored to put the Dodgers on the board, but he jogged home and did not score prior to Hernández being tagged out, so their run scoring was overturned after a review from the umpires.
Freddie Freeman away from Dodgers for family emergency
Freddie Freeman has started every game for the Dodgers this season, but he was out of the lineup for the first time on Friday.
Chelsea Freeman, Freddie’s wife, has chronicled some of the challenges the family has faced through posts on Instagram as one of their three sons, Maximus, fell ill.
Chelsea shared that Maximus got sick during the family’s visit to the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field, which Freeman had previously alluded to when explaining his decision to leave the Home Run Derby early.
Although Freeman remained in the Dodgers lineup and was scheduled to start on Friday, he’s left the team to return to Los Angeles to be with his family.
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