The Dodgers went again on Sunday into their routine: pitching exceptionally well but not hitting the ball well enough and losing once more, this time to the Chicago Cubs 4-2. Their defeat against the Cubs at Wrigley Field spelled the same bugs that had infested the Dodger batting order all season long, and even dampen the hopes for reaching the postseason.
With great anticipation, the Dodgers went to town because their pitching staff had performed quite well recently. This giant had, however, risen every now and then during the current season to be hot then, it went quiet as they took on Justin Steele of the Cubs. Steele has been erratic throughout the season but on this day, he kept the Dodgers from getting more than six hits in seven innings and struck out 8 batters.
It did not take long to see how the team in Los Angeles was off on that day. Even when the Dodgers got scoring chances early on, they could not bring it home as they stranded a total of 9 runners in the course of the game. They scored only because Mookie Betts hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning and that’s probably the only good thing to say about that offense fitting into several unusual offenses including a zone blitz in football.
“The same story once again,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game. “We fail to seize our opportunities, and this is something that has plagued us for a while now. We have to execute better with men in scoring positions.”
Despite the late arrival of the Cubs, they were able to make the best out of what they were given. There were crucial RBIs given by Patrick Wisdom and Cody Bellinger while Chicago’s bullpen did not crumble in the dying moments of the game and thus earned the victory. Bellinger, who used to play for the Dodgers, was welcomed by the fans and played his part for the Cubs against his previous employers.
The next several games will be critical for the Dodgers as it is important to find a solution to the perennial problems with the offense. With October just around the corner, the team now has to find a way of getting rid of these problems to build up momentum.
As the race for the pennant enters the homestretch, the postseason picture is shaping up and the Dodgers fans are left wishing only one thing. If only their team would be able to find the offensive magic which apparently turned one of the best offensive machines in the league. For now, though, that same lingering sense of frustration is present because the Dodgers are still searching for a World Series trophy while concerns about this have only intensified.
