Time for the Dodgers to panic? Bullpen melts down yet again
The Los Angeles Dodgers' late-inning woes continued Monday, with the bullpen losing its fourth consecutive game – and suffering its third blown save in four days.
After Clayton Kershaw tossed eight innings, the Dodgers took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants. Scott Alexander came in to close things out, but gave up four hits and hit a batter as the Giants scored four runs.
The five-time defending NL West champions have lost the lead in the division, now tied with the Colorado Rockies at one game behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles is 2.5 games back in the wild-card race.
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The Dodgers lost closer Kenley Jansen on Thursday due to an irregular heartbeat and will have to get by with a makeshift bullpen until he returns in several weeks.
Monday's stunning loss comes after an ugly weekend in Colorado. On Friday, the Dodgers couldn't hold a late lead, with Zac Rosscup giving up a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning. The next day, Alexander and JT Chargois blew a 2-0 lead in the ninth, with Ryan McMahon hitting a walk-off three-run homer.
In the final game of the series, Dodgers righty Dylan Floro walked in the winning run in the ninth inning of a tie game.
Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers are 11-13 and the bullpen has a 4.80 ERA.
In addition to Jansen, Los Angeles is without key relievers Daniel Hudson, Josh Fields and John Axford, who broke his fibula Sunday. Second baseman Brian Dozier, acquired at the trade deadline, was sent for an EKG after leaving Monday's game with dizziness.