Cubs jump on Walker Buehler early, collect 16 hits in victory over Dodgers

10.09.2024 08:11

DailyNews.com

The Chicago Cubs’ Cody Bellinger celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Monday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES — Walker Buehler’s comeback season has been uneven, to say the least – unsuccessful, to be blunt.

But the state of a starting rotation with more injury questions than certainties has nonetheless opened a door for Buehler to be part of a postseason rotation next month.

“I think he is feeling the opportunity, given where certain guys have gone down with the rotation,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Buehler took the mound against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. “He understands that the opportunity to pitch in October is not just going to be given to him. … It’s not about how you feel or this or that. It’s about taking the best players that are going to help us win in the postseason. I’m expecting him to be one of them, but his performance will dictate that.”

Performances like Monday night are probably not quite what Roberts had in mind. Buehler gave up three runs in the first inning, home runs to former Dodgers Cody Bellinger and Michael Busch and the Dodgers lost, 10-4.

“I screwed us from the jump,” said Buehler, who has given up 26 runs in the first or second innings in his 13 starts this season. “Obviously three runs in the first kind of sucked the energy out of the building. It’s hard. The first inning has been a weird thing for me this year. That’s a lot to ask of the rest of our guys to dig me out of a hole every game.”

Buehler put the Dodgers in the trail position from the start. He gave up hits to four of the first six Cubs batters he faced, including a two-run home run to Bellinger and an RBI single to Busch.

Bellinger ambushed a first-pitch fastball from Buehler, sending it 430 feet into the right field pavilion – just like the old days.

“Performance-wise, obviously a pretty big step backwards from the past two,” said Buehler, whose ERA is now 5.95. “The only positive thing I guess is kind of a long first (inning) and getting into the sixth.”

Buehler found his footing after the first, but he still gave up nine hits in five-plus innings including a solo home run by Busch in the fourth inning. Busch’s drive just cleared the short wall in the left field corner. It was one of four hits and three RBIs for Busch.

“I thought he did alright,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said, defending his teammate. “Busch’s home run was 92 (mph) off his bat, perfectly placed down the line. Cody ambushed an 0-0 heater. I know the numbers won’t say it … but I thought he did pretty good.

“Overall, when you miss that much time, you have to find your positives. I thought he did just fine.”

For all the positives Buehler professed to see in his previous two starts, the bottom line is he has not done fine. Batters have hit .308 with 15 home runs off of him in 13 starts.

Buehler said he was not thinking in terms of a postseason role when he takes the mound.

“No. At some point, given the way this season’s going, I’m kind of just trying to survive it at some point,” he said. “The past two or three have given me a little bit of confidence and feeling a little more like myself. But at some point, I’m just kind of waiting on that six on one (innings and runs), feel good, punch more than the innings I throw and things like that.

“At the end of the day I’ve got to perform and I’ve kind of said that for a long time. I’ve got to perform for myself, but more for our team. We’re trying to get to the end of a race here and whether I pitch in the playoffs or not, or whatever, we need to make the playoffs and be in a good spot and let the guys that have carried us all year carry us wherever we’re gonna go. At this point, I’m trying to go and us win the game when I start.”

The Dodgers had a chance to dig into the Cubs’ early lead when Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freeman drew consecutive walks with two outs in the third inning, but Max Muncy lined out to first.

Ohtani stole second base in that inning, pushing his total for the season to 47 stolen bases to go with 46 home runs.

The Dodgers did get on the board in the fifth inning and chased Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks. Taylor started it with a single off third baseman Isaac Paredes. Ohtani put runners at the corners with a single to center field.

Ohtani was off and running on a 2-and-1 pitch to Betts, stolen base No. 48 in his sights, but Betts singled to drive in Chris Taylor and send Ohtani to third base. After a walk to Freeman loaded the bases for Muncy again, Hendricks was pulled for reliever Keegan Thompson. Muncy drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.

Buehler went out for the sixth inning for the first time since May 31. But he didn’t retire a batter. After a walk and a single put runners at the corners, Roberts brought in Anthony Banda. By the time the lefty reliever could get through the inning – thanks in large part to a leaping, unassisted double play by Muncy at third base – the Cubs had scored three more times.

Betts hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. In 26 games since returning from a hand injury, Betts has batted .316 (31 for 98) with seven doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 26 RBIs.

But the Cubs kept scoring against lefty reliever Nick Ramirez, left to absorb the final two innings.

https://Twitter.com/MLB/status/1833328972920185031

https://Twitter.com/Cubs/status/1833341922263318559

https://Twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1833358838180851955

https://Twitter.com/MLB/status/1833338554010791962

https://Twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1833380413705703732

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