It’s a simple fact. Any time the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles lose to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of Dodgers fans, especially when it happens at Dodger Stadium.
Such was the case on Friday night, when LA County’s only Major League Baseball team lost to the “Los Angeles” team that isn’t even located in Los Angeles County – the Angels of Anaheim.
That ugly 6-2 loss in front of a Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,273 came at the hands of 27-year old Dodgers right-hander Dustin May (again).
“It was kinda all around bad. I’m kinda glad they were swinging, ’cause if they weren’t, I might not have got an out,” a visably dejected May told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson postgame. “So, it was good that they were attempting to hit it because I wasn’t throwing very many strikes.”
“Dustin was searching. He… he wasn’t, ahh, comfortable, certainly with his throw,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame, in a weak attempt to defend May’s poor outing (again). “Umm, you know, obviously, there’s some good throws in there, but then, obviously the walk, the hit batsmen, umm, it just creates traffic for himself. Umm, you know, unfortunately, a couple big hits by those guys,” Roberts added, sounding like a broken record when talking about the Justin, TX native and Dodgers third-round draft pick in 2016 out of Northwest High School in Justin.
Those “…couple big hits by those guys” included a devastating two-run home run by Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada in the top of the first inning (following a five-pitch walk of Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel) and an even more devastating two-run double by Angels shortstop Zach Neto in the top of the fourth (following consecutive hit-by-pitches of center fielder Matthew Lugo and second baseman Tim Anderson), which led to May’s departure after 5.0 innings pitched and 95 pitches (60 strikes).
With the loss, May is now 1-4 on the season, with a demotion-worthy (or DFA-able) 4.43 ERA. In fact, it would come as a surprise to no one if May never makes another pitch in a Dodgers (or Minor League affiliate) uniform again.
The two silver linings to Friday’s ugly loss was Max Muncy‘s fourth-inning double to right (for his eighth double and 17th RBI on the season), and Shohei Ohtani‘s team-leading 16th home run of the season, a monster 433-foot shot to center field to lead off the bottom of the eighth, so there’s that.
(SportsNet LA)
On to Saturday’s game.
Play Ball!
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