Mike Carlson/Getty Images
By Jon Weisman
Alex Wood still can’t shake the roadrunner blues.
Wood has made 18 starts as a Dodger. He has a 2.08 ERA in 47 2/3 home innings and, after allowing four earned runs in five innings tonight at Tampa Bay, a 6.79 ERA in 55 2/3 road innings.
Home runs hadn’t been the problem, but they were in this game. The 25-year-old left-hander had only one home run in his five starts this season — and for that matter, four in his 10 previous road starts as a Dodger — before giving up three tonight.
The third one was a crusher — a three-run shot by Rays cleanup hitter Steve Pearce that broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning and put Tampa Bay ahead to stay in a 8-5 victory.
Wood struck out seven, giving him 16 whiffs in his past 12 innings. But only one of those two games was at home.
After Pedro Baez allowed three runs in the seventh, the Dodgers worked four walks in the eighth to score three times themselves and bring the tying run to the plate, but drew no closer.
Justin Turner had the best day at the plate for Los Angeles, with a walk, single and double. Yasiel Puig also singled and doubled, while Corey Seager doubled and walked twice.
The Dodgers remained a half-game behind San Francisco in the National League West. Thursday is the Dodgers’ final day off before they play 20 games in 20 days and 40 of the next 41.
Robert J. Carmack
Why is this guy still a Dodger Pitcher?? He another Rick Nalasco , basically a .500 pitcher with potential to cost us more vital games as time move on.. The west is better than the current start that has happened up to now.. The Giants are getting better,
Mark Hagerstrom
In defense of Nolasco, his regular season record with us was 8-3. We lost the NLCS game he started 4-2. However, the FO was smart not to resign him (he got 5 years at $60 million on the market at age 31). Wood was penciled in as a fifth starter and moved to fourth because of injuries. A .500 pitcher as fourth or fifth starter is nothing to shake a stick at. Perhaps you would rather have the giant Peavy (1-3 with ERA of 9.00?
Robert J. Carmack
actually, We have too many 50/50 guys on the squad. We can’t afford to keep this torrid win one, lose 4-5 games.. We have the same problem we had last year no real dependable mid innings pitchers to Jansen, WE lack another Legit slugger that hit regardless of weather,pitchers, or having a bad day.. FO has another bad RUB with me?? what say anyone Else???
jpc40
With Dead Wood and Kazmir in the starting rotation can we even achieve a .500 W-L record:? Kershaw and Maeda cannot go without a loss the rest of the season. And where is Stripling after his opening start gem?
If we are waiting for McCarthy to return more of the same. Time to forget this season and bring up some rookies to win in “17?
butlerssc
“Forget this season” on May 5, one month into a 6-month season? You may have set the record for most off-the-wall comment.
Mark Hagerstrom
OK, but only if we can get the giants and the Snakes to agree. Quality starts: LA 54%; SF 47%; ARI 33%.
oldbrooklynfan
The 1-13 with RISP is what killed them.