Honeymoon over: Bobby Miller struggles in Dodgers’ blowout loss to Giants
Bobby Miller’s major league honeymoon is officially over.
For him and the Dodgers, Saturday marked a swift crash back to reality.
In a 15-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants, Miller was charged with seven runs in 5⅔ innings, unable to overpower hitters with his fastball, fool them with his breaking pitches or escape high-leverage jams the way he had during his first month in the big leagues.
Instead, after entering the night with a 3-0 record and 0.78 ERA in his first four career starts, the 24-year-old former first-round pick faced his first bout of MLB adversity — giving up four runs in the fifth inning, then being part of a five-run outburst in the sixth.
Giants tack on three runs to complete rout of Dodgers
⚾ Giants 15, Dodgers 0 — FINAL
Top of the ninth: Bryan Hudson walked Luis Matos and Patrick Bailey struck out. David Villar hit a double, putting two more Giants in scoring position. Casey Schmitt grounded out, allowing Matos to score. J.D. Davis Lamonte Wade Jr. singled and Villar scored, then J.D. Davis singled, bringing home Wade. The Dodgers gave up another single that didn’t score a run, huddled at the mound and finally forced Blake Sabol to fly out to close out the top half of the frame with a 15-0 lead.
Bottom of the ninth: J.D. Martinez hit a one-out single before Jonny DeLuca lined out to left and Miguel Vargas popped out to first.
The Giants take the series win.
Dodgers can’t gain ground
⚾ Giants 12, Dodgers 0 — End of the eighth
Top of the eighth: Bryan Hudson replaced Nick Robertson and quickly secured three outs.
Bottom of the eighth: Austin Barnes earned a walk, but he was stranded on base as the Giants retired three other Dodgers batters in the bottom of the frame.
Giants continue to hammer Dodgers pitching
⚾ Giants 12, Dodgers 0 — End of the seventh
Top of the seventh: Michael Conforto and Luis Matos each singled before Patrick Bailey hit a two-run double off Dodgers reliver Nick Robertson. Two batters later, LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a RBI single for the Giants’ 13th hit.
Bottom of the seventh: The Dodgers go down in order.
Giants take commanding lead on J.D. Davis grand slam
⚾ Giants 9, Dodgers 0 — End of the sixth
Top of the sixth: Mike Yastrzemski drew a lead-off walk before Luis Matos singled to short. Brandon Crawford followed with a one-out single to center, scoring Yastrzemski.
After Dodgers starter Bobby Miller struck out Casey Schmitt, Alex Vesia took over in relief. Miller gave up seven hits, five earned runs, walked three and struck out five over 5 2/3 innings and 92 pitches.
Vesia walked LaMonte Wade Jr. to load the bases and pinch-hitter J.D. Davis followed with a grand slam to center field to put the Giants in complete command. Thairo Estrada popped out to end the disastrous inning for the Dodgers.
Bottom of the sixth: Facing Giants reliever Tristan Beck, Mookie Betts led with a single to center. Freddie Freeman then singled to right. Beck struck out Will Smith before J.D. Martinez grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Giants take 4-0 lead on LaMonte Wade Jr.’s three-run homer
⚾ Giants 4, Dodgers 0 — End of the fifth
Top of the fifth: Bobby Miller walked Luis Matos, who promptly stole second. Miller then struck out Patrick Bailey. Brandon Crawford followed with a single to left field, scoring Matos. After Miller hit Casey Schmitt with a pitch, LaMonte Wade Jr. hit a three-run home run to right field. Joc Pederson lined out before Thairo Estrada hit a double. Michael Conforto grounded out to end the inning.
Bottom of the fifth: Miguel Rojas flied out before Michael Busch singled to left. Austin Barnes grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.
Dodgers and Giants still scoreless heading into fifth
⚾ Giants 0, Dodgers 0 — End of the fourth
Top of the fourth: Joc Pederson led off with a single to center. Bobby Miller struck out Thairo Estrada and Michael Conforto. Mike Yastrzemski popped out to cap the frame.
Bottom of the fourth: The Dodgers are retired in order.
Dodgers fail to capitalize on scoring chance in third
⚾ Giants 0, Dodgers 0 — End of the third
Top of the third: Brandon Crawford reached base on a single before Casey Schmitt grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. LaMonte Wade Jr. grounded out.
Bottom of the third: Michael Busch doubled on a liner to center. Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts struck out. Alex Wood hit Freddie Freeman with a pitch, prompting a mound visit. Will Smith popped out to second, ending the inning.
Dodgers strand a runner in scoreless second
⚾ Giants 0, Dodgers 0 — End of the second
Top of the second: Bobby Miller and the Dodgers retire the Giants in order.
Bottom of the second: Jonny DeLuca hit a one-out single left, but was left stranded when Miguel Vargas and Miguel Rojas flied out.
Dodgers and Giants scoreless heading into the second
⚾ Giants 0, Dodgers 0 — End of the first
Top of the first: Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller struck out LaMonte Wade Jr., then walked Joc Pederson. Thairo Estrada grounded out to third, moving Pederson to second. A wild pitch by Miller allowed Pederson to take third. Michael Conforto grounded out.
Bottom of the first: Facing Giants pitcher Alex Wood, the Dodgers were retired in order.
David Peralta, Chris Taylor avoid injured list for now
A night after the Dodgers had two players leave their game early with injuries, the team is hopeful neither will require a stint on the injured list.
David Peralta (hamstring strain) came to the ballpark feeling better Saturday, manager Dave Roberts said, and could be available off the bench.
Chris Taylor (knee pain) got a cortisone shot and will miss the next two games, but could return in time for next week’s series against the Angels.
The Dodgers did fly utility man Yonny Hernández to Los Angeles to go on the taxi squad, just in case either Peralta or Taylor suffer a setback.
Urías throws bullpen
Julio Urías (hamstring strain) threw his second bullpen session of the week Saturday, and will likely face hitters next week, Roberts said.
It marked a positive step for Urías, who has been out the last month and suffered a setback last week.
After facing hitters, Urías will go on a rehab assignment, likely with single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
That would put him on track to return to the Dodgers rotation during their road trip to Colorado and Kansas City at the end of the month.
Bullpen move
The Dodgers freshened up their bullpen Saturday, calling up left-hander Bryan Hudson and designating Tayler Scott for assignment.
Hudson, 26, was a third-round pick in 2015 who has never pitched in the majors before.
Friday recap: Dodgers bullpen meltdown spoils Emmet Sheehan’s no-hit debut
Entering the season, the Dodgers’ dependence on young starters seemed like the biggest potential pitfall facing their pitching staff.
In a disheartening 7-5 defeat to the San Francisco Giants on Friday night, though, it was abundantly clear the real holes are in the bullpen.
Despite getting six no-hit innings from debuting right-hander Emmet Sheehan, a few dazzling plays from the defense behind him, and taking a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning, the Dodgers watched their bullpen blow the game. Again.
Brusdar Graterol gave up a two-run homer in the seventh. Victor González and Tayler Scott were the culprits for a disastrous three-run rally in the eighth.
Dodgers TV schedule for remainder of regular season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers TV schedule for the remainder of the 2023 regular season. All times and broadcast/streaming options are subject to change.
