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Recap: James Paxton & Dodgers Struggle In Rubber Match Loss To Giants

Blake Williams
4 Min Read
Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the rubber match against the San Francisco Giants with a blowout 10-4 loss, giving their rivals up North a series win.

Not much went right for them with poor pitching, sloppy defense and a lack of offense.

James Paxton was on the mound, and he turned in a disastrous outing, allowing at least one run in every inning he pitched while also allowing a five-spot in his final frame.

The Giants scored first when they loaded the bases in the first inning and capitalized with a sacrifice fly from Matt Chapman. Paxton was able to escape the jam by limiting the damage, but things kept going downhill from there.

The second inning saw four more hits, including a double and sac fly, to put the Giants up 3-0. It could have been worse, if not for a baserunning blunder by Nick Ahmed.

In the third, a pair of doubles gave the Giants their fourth run, and things fell apart even more in the next inning.

A single and a walk set the stage for an Heliot Ramos double to make it 5-0, and another double from Patrick Bailey drove in two more. The inning was capped off by Chapman blasting a two-run homer for the Giants’ ninth run of the game.

Overall, Paxton finished with four innings pitched, giving up nine runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and two walks. His season ERA now sits at a still somewhat respectable 4.28 in 75.2 innings, while also posting a 1.41 WHIP with 53 strikeouts across 15 starts.

The Dodgers did not get on the board until Chris Taylor hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. Taylor then drove in another run in the seventh inning with a double.

The game was encouraging from Taylor because he has been swinging the bat better as of late, going 9-for-21 over his last nine games, as he is set to be the starting third baseman moving forward.

Austin Barnes drove in two more runs in the ninth inning with a double.

L.A. picked up just six hits in the game and never threatened to do much with their baserunners as they went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

On defense, Andy Pages struggled in center field, making a few sloppy plays and an error. Cavan Biggio also made an error after taking over for Freddie Freeman.

The Dodgers game up 10 doubles in the game, which set a new franchise record for most allowed in a single game.

Dodgers get day off before home stand

The Dodgers now return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks as they look to get back on track. But before that series begins on July 2, the Dodgers have a much-needed day off on Monday.

Their bullpen has been overworked over the past two games due to their poor starting pitching, so it gives them a chance to reset.

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Blake Williams is a journalist from Reseda, Calif., who is currently the Managing Editor for Dodger Blue. He previously worked as a Managing Editor for Angels Nation, as a staff writer at Dodgers Nation, as the Managing Editor and Sports Editor for the Roundup News at L.A. Pierce College, and as an Opinion Editor for the Daily Sundial at California State University, Northridge. Blake graduated Cum Laude from CSUN with a major in journalism and a minor in photography/video. He is now pursuing his master's degree from the University of Alabama. Blake is also always open to talk Star Wars with you. Contact: Blake@mediumlargela.com