Dodgers absorb short start by Walker Buehler, win a wild one in extra innings
As if you needed something else to worry about these days.
In his second start since going to the injured list with a blister on the index finger of his right hand, Walker Buehler left the game in the midst of a five-run third inning. But the Dodgers absorbed the early adversity and came back to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-9 in 10 innings Tuesday night at Chase Field.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Gavin Lux (9) scores on a base hit by teammate Edwin Rios as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Daulton Varsho bobbles the throw during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Gavin Lux scores after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Outfielder Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is unable to catch a two-run home run hit by Kole Calhoun (not pictured) of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 08, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Starting pitcher Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers has his hand looked at by a team trainer during the third inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 08, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Infielder Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks attempts to tag Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he slides safely into third base during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 08, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger slides safely into third on a base hit by teammate Max Muncy against Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Kole Calhoun (56) looks back after catching a long fly-out hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ A.J. Pollock as teammate Tim Locastro crashes into the wall during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Relief pitcher Victor Gonzalez #81 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 08, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Tim Locastro steals second as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager waits for the throw during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 08, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler (21) is checked by the trainer during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Kole Calhoun, right, catches a long fly-out hit by Los Angeles Dodgers’ A.J. Pollock during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix as teammate Tim Locastro looks on. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chris Taylor looks away as a home run ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks’ Kole Calhoun rolls above the fence during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger slides safely into third on a base hit by teammate Max Muncy against Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte breaks up a double play as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager looks to throw during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ A.J. Pollock scores on a base hit by teammate Chris Taylor during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte breaks up a double play as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager looks to throw during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (35) steals second as Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte reaches for the throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Gavin Lux hit two home runs and drove in five runs including a three-run shot in the 10th — and the Dodgers still haven’t lost three consecutive games in over a year (since August 29-31, 2019).
“It kind of is what it is at this point,” Buehler said after the game, being vague in most of his responses to questions about the blister. “I’m trying to learn how to deal with it and execute. My goal is to be better next time. But at the end of the day, I’ve said it a million times, I’ve had a few tough ones this year and haven’t sunk the ship.”
Pressed on what it means to “deal with” the blister, Buehler said the focus would be on making sure it doesn’t get worse and making unspecified adjustments. “There’s stuff that you’re going to have to do differently and stuff that you’re going to do the same,” he said.
“I’m not overly concerned, I just want to pitch better,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s all it really is. I have the utmost trust and respect for our trainers and our staff and our coaching staff in making decisions. I think we’ve handled it pretty well so far. I don’t think today was a result of that. I think it’s something that, no offense, you guys will talk about and whatnot. But to me, I just didn’t make pitches.”
Buehler threw five scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks at home last week in his return to the rotation, limited to 75 pitches out of caution. There didn’t appear to be any problems to start Tuesday night either.
Buehler retired the first seven Diamondbacks hitters in order, touching 101 mph with a fastball to Kole Calhoun in the second inning. But Buehler recorded just one more out in the next six batters.
Daulton Varsho touched him for a solo home run and the next two hitters reached base on singles. An error by Lux allowed one run to score. A forceout pushed across another. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to the pitcher’s mound with a trainer at one point, checking on Buehler but letting him continue.
That ended when he gave up a two-run home run to Calhoun on his 32nd pitch of the inning.
Roberts said he expects Buehler to make his next start but there will be “discussions” about the best way to make sure the blister is not an issue in October.
“Nothing’s off the table,” Roberts said.
The offense had ample kindling to spot the Diamondbacks that early lead and come back. The Dodgers had 12 baserunners — six hits, six walks — in the first five innings alone but stranded 10 of those runners by going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Lux drove in one run with a solo homer and Chris Taylor another with a single. But the Dodgers trailed 6-2 after six innings.
They finally sparked to life during a four-run seventh inning that tied the game.
The hapless Diamondbacks (they have lost 17 of their past 19 games with a trade-deadline selloff in the midst of it) gave the Dodgers extended life when Tim Locastro inexplicably ran into an out to end the ninth inning. The speedy Locastro drew a walk, stole second and trotted into third when Austin Barnes’ throw skipped into center field. But Locastro then tried to run home as well and was tagged out easily.
The Dodgers did their part to extend the game by stranding 15 runners on base. Finally in the 10th inning, though, an error by third baseman Eduardo Escobar allowed the go-ahead run to score and Lux followed with his third hit and second home run of the game.
“I don’t think there’s been one specific at-bat that was a Eureka moment. It’s just been putting in work continuously and getting more comfortable with each at-bat,” said Lux, now 5 for his past 15 after a 2-for-17 start to his late arrival in the big leagues this season.
That put the game out of reach — barely. Kenley Jansen gave up a two-run home run to Christian Walker and had the tying run on base before closing it out.
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