{"id":696930,"date":"2026-05-12T11:33:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/696930\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T11:33:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T11:33:59","slug":"dodgers-bullpen-the-guilty-party-in-latest-loss-san-gabriel-valley-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/696930\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers\u2019 bullpen the guilty party in latest loss \u2013 San Gabriel Valley Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stands in the on-deck circle during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Trevor McDonald throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani swings at a pitch during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani bats during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani takes his batting gloves off as he sits in the dugout during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Mookie Betts swings at a pitch during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Rafael Devers runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers, left, celebrates his solo home run with teammate Heliot Ramos during the second inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki gestures to a teammate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Trevor McDonald throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Mookie Betts, right, reacts after he struck out swinging during the third inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki claps as he walks to the dugout after the top of the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Max Muncy hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Max Muncy, center, celebrates his RBI single at first base during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Freddie Freeman is greeted in the dugout after scoring on an RBI single by Max Muncy during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Andy Pages breaks his bat while hitting into a run-scoring double play during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Andy Pages breaks his bat while hitting int o a run-scoring double play during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez, right, reacts as he holds the Dodgers\u2019 Max Muncy after throwing to first base to complete a double play during the fourth inning on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Kyle Tucker is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run during the fourth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first base on a ground out by the San Francisco Giants\u2019 Jung Hoo Lee during the fifth inning on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki gestures toward third baseman Max Muncy, not shown, during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a foul ball during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani backs off from an inside pitch during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is tagged by San Francisco Giants catcher Jesus Rodriguez after he struck out on a dropped third strike during the fifth inning on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Rafael Devers hits a single during the sixth inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Heliot Ramos hits a two-run double during the sixth inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) is removed from the game by Manager Dave Roberts, right, during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) is greeted by coaches and teammates in the dugout after being removed during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki is greeted in the dugout during the fifth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages catches a fly ball in front of the wall during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, tags the San Francisco Giants\u2019 Heliot Ramos for an out during the sixth inning on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers lost, 9-3. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 Max Muncy watches the flight of his solo home run during the sixth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez slides as he tries to catch a ball that was hit for a single by the San Francisco Giants\u2019 Casey Schmitt during the seventh inning on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Casey Schmitt, right, steals second base as Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts takes a late throw during the ninth inning on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Willy Adames hits an RBI single during the ninth inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The San Francisco Giants\u2019 Jung Hoo Lee gets hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a game against the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani strikes out swinging during the ninth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher JT Brubaker, left, and catcher Jesus Rodriguez celebrate after the final out of the team\u2019s 9-3 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants players celebrate after their 9-3 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers<\/p>\n

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts warms up with Travis Smith before a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How\/Getty Images)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 50<\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2014 If it\u2019s not one thing, it\u2019s another.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers\u2019 offense has been dissected and analyzed like a bug on a slide. The starting pitching only recently became a concern with Tyler Glasnow\u2019s injury, Blake Snell\u2019s premature return and, of course, Roki Sasaki\u2019s mystery grab bag every time out.<\/p>\n

Even with closer Edwin Diaz\u2019s injury, the bullpen had been fairly stable \u2013 and Alex Vesia a rock of dependability within that. But Vesia entered a tie game in the seventh inning and retired just one of five batters he faced as the San Francisco Giants scored three times then blew the game open in the ninth to hand the Dodgers their latest disappointment, a 9-3 loss in the opener of a four-game series Monday night.<\/p>\n

Eight of the Giants\u2019 runs came in the sixth inning or later. The Dodgers have now lost three games in a row \u2013 by a combined score of 23-7 \u2013 eight of their past 12 and 13 of their past 22 games. With this loss, they fell out of first place in the NL West.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in a funk right now, and it\u2019s a team-wide thing,\u201d said third baseman Max Muncy, who drove in two of the Dodgers\u2019 three runs and tied the score with a solo home run in the sixth inning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not taking this lightly right now. But you know, we also understand it is 162(-game season) and we\u2019ve gone through stretches like this in the past, and we\u2019ve also gone through good stretches. \u2026 We\u2019re having a lot of conversations. But it\u2019s also trying not to overreact to something still early in May.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Muncy\u2019s home run knotted the score at 3-3, Vesia struck out Jesus Rodriguez to start the seventh. But he gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases then lost a seven-pitch battle with Rafael Devers, walking him to force in a run.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot the first guy out, and then three consecutive hits, two of them were middle. So I just need to be better with the fastball,\u201d Vesia said. \u201cObviously I\u2019ve pitched against them a lot, so I need to be better.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis one was on me tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not yet.<\/p>\n

Will Klein replaced Vesia and struck out Heliot Ramos. He got ahead of Willy Adames, 0-and-2 then 1-and-2, moving one pitch away from ending the inning. But Adames fought off a high slider, dumping a soft single into right field to drive in two runs.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust left it up. It didn\u2019t bite. Just spun there. The worst slider I threw today in the worst possible spot. Not fun,\u201d Klein said, taking no solace in the fact that the ball left Adames\u2019 bat at just 74.1 mph.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah. But he was able to get under it because it was up. If it\u2019s down and it\u2019s 74 on the ground, it\u2019s an out or he misses it. But it\u2019s up,\u201d he said. \u201cI had two chances to execute pitches and I didn\u2019t. Sometimes they\u2019ll hit it really hard to guys and you feel like you luck out. The last couple it feels like they\u2019re hitting it 74 right where we\u2019re not.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe BABIP (batting average on balls in play) gods will get you and they\u2019ll ruin your day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Giants didn\u2019t have to put many balls in play to put the game out of reach in the ninth inning. Dodgers reliever Wyatt Mills gave up three runs on just one hit \u2013 because he walked four and hit a batter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look at teams and you look at the teams that we\u2019ve had, every year, we sort of go through it. And really every team goes through it,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. \u201cIt\u2019s not fun when you\u2019re going through it. But you\u2019ve just got to remain positive. You do. I think that building on some wins and knowing that the guys are working, that it will turn. It always has. That\u2019s kind of what I\u2019m hanging my hat on.\u201d<\/p>\n

For it to turn collectively, it might need to turn for one individual in particular. Shohei Ohtani was 0 for 5 on Monday with three ground outs to the right side of the infield and two strikeouts. All five at-bats looked unsettlingly distant from Ohtani\u2019s norm.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it is. It is. It is,\u201d Roberts said when asked if this was as out of sorts as he has ever seen Ohtani. \u201cI think even early on (this season), when he wasn\u2019t right, he was still taking walks and getting on base. But I think right now \u2013 and tonight was a classic example \u2013 I think he\u2019s just trying to swing out of it. And so that\u2019s just apparent. And a lot of hitters, when they are scuffling, they want to kind of swing out of it. And so tonight was one of those nights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the thought is understandable. But when you\u2019re a really dangerous hitter and pitchers are not going to give in to you, then it\u2019s really not a good mindset. Because you sort of gotta take what they give you. And so tonight, they clearly weren\u2019t going to give in to him. And he took the bait tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the third time this season \u2013 a rarity that is becoming less rare \u2013 Ohtani took batting practice on the field before Monday\u2019s game, searching for something. He didn\u2019t find it. He is 4 for his past 38 (.105) with only one home run in his past 115 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

Ohtani is scheduled to pitch again Wednesday. Roberts said Ohtani will not hit in either that game or Thursday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought the BP, the intent was good,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI thought the homers to the big part of the field (in batting practice) were really good, and then just in the game, it just sort of reverted back to what it\u2019s been.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dodgers were left to look to Sasaki for positives out of Monday.<\/p>\n

Devers clipped him for a solo home run in the second inning, but Sasaki worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the third, retired eight in a row at one point and pitched into the sixth inning with just that one run allowed.<\/p>\n

But he gave up singles to Casey Schmitt and Devers to start the sixth then a two-run double to Heliot Ramos that ended Sasaki\u2019s night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that Roki\u2019s been good. I really do,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cHe got into the sixth inning and he gives up a grounder to Schmitt, a ball off the end of the bat to Devers and then a changeup that Ramos hooks down the line. He had enough pitches to get through the sixth inning and it could\u2019ve been a six-inning, one-run outing. I\u2019m not going to look at a grounder that gets by the third baseman as making it a bad outing. I think Roki\u2019s certainly doing his part.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki throws to the plate during the first inning of a game against the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":696931,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2406],"tags":[5,39,1165,4332,4333,774,57,3224,4331,4,185],"class_list":{"0":"post-696930","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles-dodgers","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-dodgers","10":"tag-la","11":"tag-la-dodgers","12":"tag-ladodgers","13":"tag-los-angeles","14":"tag-los-angeles-dodgers","15":"tag-losangeles","16":"tag-losangelesdodgers","17":"tag-mlb","18":"tag-sports"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116561398565052400","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696930","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=696930"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696930\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/696931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=696930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=696930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=696930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}