Dodgers bats break out after hitting low point

Last week might have been the longest week in Dodgers history.

At least it ended on a high note. The Dodgers scored a Dodger Stadium record 22 runs on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They hit eight home runs, tying a Dodger Stadium record, and two grand slams in a 22-1 rout.

The Dodgers had to rally for three runs in the eighth inning to tie the score against the Diamondbacks before winning Sunday’s game, 7-4, in the bottom of the ninth inning on a three-run, walk-off home run by Max Muncy.

The Dodgers improved their record in one-run games in 2021 to 12-16, not exactly a reassuring record. The Dodgers are an equally alarming 1-7 in extra-inning games in the first half of 2021. 

The Dodgers can point to a number of high points as the first half of the season comes to an unofficial end. The Dodgers lead the majors in run differential, ERA and opposing batting average. Still, it’s only good enough for the second best record in the National League. 

Before Saturday night’s game, the Dodgers reached one of the lowest points in franchise history.

The Trevor Bauer saga alone is exhausting. It is far from over. His initial seven-day paid leave was extended another week. The Dodgers canceled his bobblehead night and pulled all his merchandise from the stadium stores. Some of his teammates unfollowed him on social media. It certainly looks like the Dodgers are trying to distance themselves as far away from Bauer as possible.

In the era of coronavirus, this might be a smart move.

But the reason to keep Bauer at a safe distance has nothing to do with avoiding catching a deadly disease.

He is a cancer. There is no doubt of that. Is he toxic enough to kill the Dodgers season? That has yet to be seen. 

But if the Dodgers performance over the past week is any indication of what to expect for the rest of the season, it doesn’t look good.

The Dodgers dropped three of four games to the mediocre Miami Marlins to start the week. The same problems that have plagued the Dodgers all season surfaced. Lack of timely hitting and an inconsistent bullpen led to three losses in a row to start the series. The Dodgers were able to salvage the fourth game, behind a gem from Julio Urias. He went seven innings, allowed a solo home run to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first inning, and struck out nine without giving up another run to win his 11th game of the season.

The Dodgers needed that.

But the good vibes didn’t last long.

The Dodgers lost the opener of the weekend series to the lowly, last-place Diamondbacks on Friday. In addition to struggling at the plate and out of the bullpen, the Dodgers butchered the baseball in the field. They committed two errors, and issued two bases-loaded walks in the ninth inning, in losing 5-2.

How embarrassing.

If that wasn’t painful enough to watch, the Dodgers put Clayton Kershaw on the 10-day injured list. It looks like a precautionary move, and gives him time to rest over the All Star break. An MRI revealed Kershaw has a sore elbow, no inflammation. The last thing the Dodgers need is to lose another starter. The starting rotation has been the strongest part of the Dodgers team this year.

Dodgers starting pitchers power rankings:

1. Julio Urias
2. Walker Buehler
3. Tony Gonsolin
4. David Price
5. Jake Reed

The All-Star Game is Tuesday. Representing the Dodgers on the All Star team are Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Walker Buehler. Mookie Betts was selected to the team, but decided to skip the All-Star Game. Dave Roberts is the manager of the National League All Stars. 

The Dodgers (56-35) start a weekend series against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. Who knows if anything will be resolved in the Bauer saga by then. The only thing that is certain is the Dodgers are in second place in the National League West standings, behind those surprising San Francisco Giants, at the All Star break.