Giants Keep Pressure in NL West as Dodgers Falter Again

The San Francisco Giants just took another tough series loss to their archrivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The rubber match ended in a lopsided 10-2 defeat.

There were a few moments of hope, but the Giants’ pitching collapsed. Their bats barely made a sound, and the Dodgers’ relentless lineup just kept coming.

San Francisco’s problems against elite teams are starting to stand out. The season feels like it’s heading in the wrong direction.

Giants Falter in the Rubber Match

Lefty Robbie Ray got the start but ran into trouble right away. He let too many Dodgers reach base with walks and well-placed hits.

Ray lasted just over four innings, surrendering six hits and four walks. That put the already-tired bullpen in a real jam.

Ray’s command issues brought back memories of Logan Webb’s rough outing the night before. Both starters had deep counts and let too many Dodgers get on base.

Freeman Delivers the Breakthrough

The Dodgers broke the game open in the fifth. Freddie Freeman ripped an RBI double, and that was it for Ray.

After that, LA’s bats went to work on the Giants’ bullpen. Defensive mistakes and shaky relief pitching just made things worse.

Wasted Chances Against Tyler Glasnow

The final score makes it look like the Dodgers dominated wire-to-wire, but Tyler Glasnow wasn’t sharp early. He handed out five walks in the first few innings.

San Francisco simply couldn’t cash in. They managed just one hit off Glasnow until the seventh, missing several chances to make him pay.

Early Sparks Fade Quickly

The Giants’ only real highlight before things got out of hand came in the second. Jung Hoo Lee got hit by a pitch, moved up on a wild pitch, and scored on a sac fly.

After that, the bats went silent until it was too late to matter.

Dodgers’ Relentless Offensive Pressure

The Dodgers’ offense looked nearly unstoppable in the last two games. They racked up 17 hits on Saturday, then piled on 18 more Sunday.

That’s 23 runs in two games. Even when Shohei Ohtani didn’t do much—Ray actually struck him out twice—Los Angeles still found ways to pile on.

Depth in the Dodgers’ Lineup

The heart of the Dodgers’ order was lethal. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández combined for ten hits in the finale.

Michael Conforto had a big day too, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Add in the Giants’ fielding mistakes and wild pitching, and LA had all the momentum.

September Struggles Continue for Robbie Ray

San Francisco has to be worried about Robbie Ray’s continued struggles. After Sunday, he’s now allowed 20 earned runs over his last five starts.

He can’t seem to find the strike zone or keep his pitch count down. That’s a big problem for a team desperate for some stability.

Can the Giants Reverse Their Slide?

September’s been rough for the Giants. The pitching’s shaky, the offense isn’t cashing in, and their postseason hopes are slipping away.

The Dodgers just looked like the better team, plain and simple. The gap between these two clubs feels pretty wide right now.

Key Takeaways

Looking back at the series, a few things really stand out:

• Pitching Depth Issues: Ray and Webb both had a tough time, so the bullpen got stretched thin.
• Missed Offensive Opportunities: Glasnow handed out five early walks, but the Giants couldn’t cash in.
• Dodgers’ Lineup Depth: Even with Ohtani quiet at the plate, LA’s offense just kept coming at San Francisco.
• Defensive Mistakes: Fielding errors piled on more pressure for pitchers who were already on the ropes.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The punishment continues