The streak was in danger before the first inning ended.
Back-to-back home runs by San Diego Padres sluggers Fernando Tatís Jr. and Jake Cronenworth gave the home team an early lead against the Dodgers on Sunday, halfway to the mark that has defined the Padres’ pitching staff. Dodgers for the last 18 games.
The Dodgers’ bullpen was responsible, midway through the fourth inning with the bases loaded, for extending the team’s franchise-high 18 games of four or fewer runs allowed.
And with just one earned run in the final 4 2/3 innings, they did just that.
![Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen revs up in May 2024 Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen revs up in May 2024](https://i0.wp.com/keynoteusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Los-Angeles-Dodgers-bullpen-revs-up-in-May-written.jpeg?resize=1170%2C616&ssl=1)
The Dodgers fell to the Padres 4-0 on Sunday, losing two of three in San Diego, their first loss in a series since April 19-21 against the New York Mets. The Dodgers lost 2-1 in an 11th-inning win against Padres newcomer Luis Arráez on Friday and forced a decider after Teoscar Hernández’s sixth-inning grand slam fueled a 5- 0 on Saturday.
The decisive game began with the Padres’ two-run first inning against starter Walker Buehler, but a momentum-stopping performance by the Dodgers bullpen kept the game within reach. It’s indicative of a diverse bullpen that has arguably become the best relief corps in the major leagues through May.
The Dodgers bullpen entered 2024 with a battle-tested group and had a 3.66 ERA through April 30, which ranks 11th in the MLB. They lowered that mark to an MLB-best 0.92 ERA in May, allowing three runs in 29 1/3 innings for the month.
Much of that recent effectiveness comes from a lighter workload thanks to long performances by the Dodgers’ starters, with right-hander Tyler Glasnow finishing seven innings on Friday and left-hander James Paxton pitching six scoreless innings on Saturday.
But even when asked to shoulder the majority of the workload, as was the case on Sunday, the bullpen has kept pace lately.
What’s especially impressive about the Dodgers’ bullpen is how effectively they’ve pitched without closer Evan Phillips, who leads qualified Dodger relievers with a 0.66 ERA and has been out with a right hamstring strain. since May 3.
Other veterans have taken their place, including left-hander Alex Vesia, who pitched a clean sixth inning on Sunday.
Relievers Ryan Yarbrough and Gus Varland made back-to-back appearances on Saturday and Sunday, combining for one earned run in 3 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Nabil Crismatt finished the game Sunday with his second multi-inning relief outing of the season, pitching a scoreless seventh and eighth inning and striking out two batters. The Colombian pitcher joined the team as a non-roster invitee to spring training and has already made key appearances for an injury-plagued bullpen.
Dodgers pitching has allowed four runs or fewer in 19 consecutive games, starting with a 10-0 win on April 21 against the Mets. Only 14 teams in the live-ball era (since 1920) have completed a longer stretch, with Cleveland in 2017 and St. Louis in 1942 setting the record with 25 games.
The Dodgers could set the live ball record next Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds, as they are currently six games away from a monumental achievement.
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Buehler’s patience and offensive struggles
Buehler’s second start after Tommy John surgery saw him allow three runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings.
He gave up consecutive solo home runs in the first inning but calmed down until the fourth inning when he loaded the bases on a single by Jackson Merrill, a walk by Luis Campusano, and a hit-by-pitch to Ha-Seong Kim. before exiting the game.
Buehler says he will be patient during his first starts of the season.
“I’m trying to give myself a little grace period so I don’t freak out,” he said. “I’m pretty encouraged by a lot of the things I’ve done in this game. “I think I could have had a horrible game and a really good game if I had split the pitches the way I wanted.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed the patient’s perspective.
“We can’t lose sight of the fact that he hasn’t pitched in two years,” he said. “I’m not going to give much importance to two exits. “I think bringing him back here, getting him back into competition mode, is a good thing.”
The Dodgers’ offense was unable to support the pitching staff on Sunday, recording four hits and reaching base for the first time in the fifth inning after a walk by Andy Pages. Padres starter Yu Darvish had his best start of the season, striking out seven Dodgers batters and walking just one in seven scoreless innings.
The Dodgers lead the MLB in scoring (5.23 runs/game) but scored a combined six runs in three games over the weekend.
“We just couldn’t do anything,” Roberts said. “(Darvish) was in rhythm, he was locked in. They took an early lead and we didn’t threaten.”
What’s Next
The Dodgers (27-15) travel to San Francisco for a 6:45 p.m. game against the Giants on Monday, and rookie Gavin Stone is scheduled to pitch against right-hander Jordan Hicks.
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