Dodgers 1 Reds 11: Nightmare

The Dodgers did not get their first hit until the seventh inning in a game that went into a rain delay.

Tonight’s Dodger game was a nightmare to say the least. It took seven innings to get a hit, Brett Anderson failed to get deeper than three innings and the Reds offense took charge again.

Dodgers Starter

So usually you give a guy a pass on his first start back from the DL because maybe he just needs time to get back in the routine of things. Well, Brett Anderson’s start tonight did not show that. He was only just a little better than his awful outing five days ago. He went three innings, allowed nine hits and six earned runs. He also walked two batters and struck out one. It was a nightmare to say the least. Nothing was going right and by the time Anderson was pulled in the fourth he had exceeded 60 pitches. Things went from really bad to even worse, when Anderson threw a ball that slipped out of his hand. He showed some discomfort so the trainers and Dave Roberts made their way to the mound. Anderson was pulled and according to Alanna Rizzo on Twitter it was due to a blister on his left index finger. Possibly another DL stint? At this point I think Anderson needs to come with a giant “FRAGILE” sticker attached to him. He has battled countless injuries over his major league career and the guy is only 28 years-old. The Dodgers have got to figure something out. Anderson can’t keep getting this starting role if these are the numbers he is going to put up. He is currently scheduled to pitch in the three game series against the Giants. If the Reds can pound Anderson this hard, I am scared to see how he would do when facing a Giants lineup.

Dodgers Offense

What offense? Brandon Finnegan had the Dodgers offense completely SHUT DOWN through six innings and didn’t collect their first hit of the game until the top of the seventh inning when Adrian Gonzalez singled off of Finnegan.

By the time Anderson exited the game, the Reds already had a lead over the Dodgers by a score of five to zero. Then the bullpen came in.

After Gonzalez got the first hit for the club in the seventh inning, the rain started to come. The umpires called for a rain delay as the tarp came on the field.

The Dodgers would finally score a run in the top of the ninth inning. Corey Seager pinch hit for J.P. Howell and singled. Justin Turner followed him up with a double to deep right and Seager came home on a ground out from Rob Segedin.

Dodgers Bullpen

Grant Dayton came in to relieve Anderson. He was in a bases loaded jam and ended up allowing two runs thanks to Jose Peraza who hit a two run shot to left. The former Dodger was making his presence known this evening. That made the score 7 to 0. The Reds would tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth inning to make that score eight to zero off of Josh Fields. Adam Liberatore did a good job pitching a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning.

Rain delay lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, but the Dodgers came back with Joe Blanton on the mound. J.P. Howell came into the game in the bottom of the seventh following the rain delay. He allowed a double, single and a two run home run from Scott Schebler which gave the Reds the lead by a score of 11 to 0.

Other Stuff

Hands down the best part about tonight’s game was when it was put in rain delay and they showed a story on R.J. Peete and his job as a clubhouse assistant with the Dodgers. He was diagnosed with Autism at the age of three. It was such an amazing story and so cool to see how the players have embraced him this season.

In other news, Clayton Kershaw threw a bullpen today of 20 pitches and he said he felt great as reported at MLB. At this point, the Dodgers desperately need Kershaw back. The bullpen needs a starter to get deeper into games in order to give them some sort of rest.

For the second night in a row, I am thankful that this game was over. The Dodgers are still looking for their first win of the series tomorrow as first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 AM.