Justin Wrobleski's Struggles And Defensive Woes Add Up To Another Dodgers Loss

PHOENIX — It’s nary concealed that nan Dodgers haven’t played their champion shot complete nan past 9 days. But during their 4-2 nonaccomplishment to nan Arizona Diamondbacks connected Sunday, they played immoderate of their worst.

Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski remained successful a rut, giving up 4 runs (three earned) successful 3⅓ innings. The two-run homer he surrendered to Diamondbacks move hitter Ketel Mart successful nan first inning was nan ninth location tally he has fixed up successful 3 starts.

Before his caller struggles, Wrobleski hadn’t surrendered much than 3 homers successful 3 games this season.

He near a fastball loop precocious to Marte, who entered Sunday pinch a .913 OPS against left-handed pitchers. Marte lined it into nan Diamondbacks’ bullpen successful nan left-field corner.

After Wrobleski’s past start, head Dave Roberts said nan Dodgers (70-48) would look into whether nan left-hander mightiness beryllium tipping pitches, but he said earlier nan crippled Sunday that those suspicions seemed “unfounded.”

While Wrobleski intelligibly wasn’t astatine his best, giving up six hits and 3 walks, sloppy defense didn’t thief his cause.

He could person been retired of nan first inning earlier nan location run, but shortstop Mookie Betts seemed to get a mediocre grip connected nan shot arsenic he attempted to move a double play.

The adjacent inning, Wrobleski fielded a sacrifice bunt and sailed his propulsion precocious and wide to first base, allowing a tally to people and putting different runner connected base.

Later successful nan inning, though nan tally would person apt scored anyways, nan usually beardown relay operation of halfway fielder Andy Pages and Betts ended pinch Betts throwing complete catcher Ben Rortvedt.

The Dodgers’ offense, successful nan meantime, went down successful bid successful nan first 2 innings. Betts made nan champion contact, but his opposite-field alert to nan informing way recovered leather.

The remainder of nan way, nan Dodgers tightened up their defense, and their bullpen unopen down nan Diamondbacks (63-56). The Dodgers’ lineup strung together hits to people connected Pages’ third-inning double and Kyle Tucker’s sixth-inning triple. But they still mislaid for nan eighth clip successful 9 games.