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Dodgers held to three hits in shutout loss to Giants

April 12, 2023

Dodgers pitcher Dustin May throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood throws against the Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts walks to the dugout after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers starting pitcher Dustin May throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor throws to first for an out against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson hits a two-run double against the Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ Joc Pederson runs after hitting a two-run double against the Dodgers during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., left, and Michael Conforto celebrate after they scored against the Dodgers on Joc Pederson’s double during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers pitcher Dustin May throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas is unable to catch a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ David Villar, who reached first safely during the fourth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Joc Pederson was forced out at second on the play. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas, right, fails to catch a ball hit by the San Francisco Giants’ David Villar as left fielder James Outman looks on during the fourth inning on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Dodgers’ Chris Taylor reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Alex Wood, middle, hands the ball to Manager Gabe Kapler, left, as he exits during the fifth inning of their game against the Dodgers in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas, left, turns a double play as the San Francisco Giants’ LaMonte Wade Jr., right, slides during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers pitcher Dustin May reacts after a double play ended the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants catcher Blake Sabol, left, interferes with the Dodgers’ Miguel Vargas during an at-bat in the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Vargas reached first due to the catcher interference. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants catcher Blake Sabol, right, steps on home plate to force out the Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. James Outman reached first on the play. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas strikes out against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas reacts after striking out against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Dodgers relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford catches a pop-up hit by the Dodgers’ J.D. Martinez during the seventh inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Tyler Rogers throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night in San Francisco. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The San Francisco Giants’ David Villar hits a two-run home run against the Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ David Villar celebrates as he crosses home after hitting a two-run home run against the Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford, right, runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Dodgers during the eighth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Francisco Giants celebrate after their 5-0 victory over the Dodgers in a baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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SAN FRANCISCO — On a chilly night at Oracle Park on Tuesday, it was a race to see which got cold faster – the garlic fries or the Dodgers’ offense. Both lacked their usual zest.

The Dodgers had averaged seven runs over the previous seven games but managed just three hits in a 5-0 shutout loss to the San Francisco Giants.

“We scored nine yesterday, scored zero tonight. Baseball – it happens,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We had opportunities. We just didn’t come through tonight.”

Accurate on both counts.

Despite the combined three-hitter by six Giants pitchers – including former Dodgers Alex Wood and Scott Alexander – the Dodgers had plenty of baserunners. They walked five times (and lead the majors with 65 this season), had two batters hit by pitches and another reached base on catcher’s interference.

But they stranded 11, going 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

The Dodgers also hit three balls that left the bat at 98 mph or higher – one each by Mookie Betts (98.2), Miguel Vargas (102.4) and Will Smith (104.6) – but those were run down by Giants outfielders.

Freeman was 0 for 5, including two of those at-bats with runners in scoring position and struck out three times.

“Yeah, I’m still trying to find it,” Freeman said. “Working hard, trying to feel good at the plate. It’s a grind. It’s a long season.”

If Freeman is “still trying to find it,” he is at least hitting .375 while he searches. Chris Taylor looks to be lost at sea.

Taylor struck out three times Tuesday and has started the season 3 for 31 with 14 strikeouts – a troubling follow-up to a cold spring and an injury-plagued sub-par year in 2022 during which he had one of the poorest contact rates in MLB.

“It’s discouraging, but that’s part of the game,” Taylor said.

“I mean, I have my days where I feel good in BP and in the cage, and then just not translate it over to the game. Sometimes that’s mechanics. Sometimes it’s just pitch selection or approach. I feel like, mechanically, I was in not the best spot. … I’m still not quite right. I think you got to just keep going and understand that, it’s still early in the season, and like I said, just come in with a fresh mindset, keep working, keep your head down, move forward.”

Taylor came up with runners at first and second and one out in the second inning. He struck out for the first time against Wood and James Outman followed with a ground out.

Taylor’s second strikeout ended the fourth inning with a runner at first.

The Dodgers’ best chance to dent the scoreboard came in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases on two singles and the catcher’s interference. They came away empty-handed.

Taylor went down swinging on four pitches against Giants reliever Jakob Junis.

“I thought I had good at-bats against Woody and just swung under two 3-2 heaters,” Taylor said. “Then I think the third at-bat, it was just the frustration getting to me, swinging at bad pitches.”

Alexander came in and got Outman to dribble a ball in front of the plate which Alexander flipped to catcher Blake Sabol for a forceout. The lefty reliever then struck out Miguel Rojas to end the threat.

“No, we didn’t,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the failure to “move the ball forward” with the bases loaded. “That was something I was counting on to put a little pressure on those guys. We just got to be better right there. We do.”

Monday night’s two-homer, seven-RBI breakout star Max Muncy (with a career slugging percentage of .590 at Oracle Park) watched the rally die from the bench, one of three left-handed hitters Roberts could have used as pinch-hitters for Taylor or Rojas. But the Giants had two left-handed relievers available (Alexander and Taylor Rogers) and Roberts didn’t use them until the eighth and ninth innings, all three with no one on base. Muncy and Heyward struck out. Peralta grounded out.

“I thought about it,” Roberts said of using one of the pinch-hitters for Taylor or Rojas with the bases loaded. “Obviously I had Muncy on the bench right there. But I just felt that Chris could move the ball forward. I thought about it but didn’t pull the trigger.”

The Giants got all of the scoring they would need in Dustin May’s first 19 pitches.

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Too many of those missed the mark as the Dodgers starter walked the first two batters he faced then gave up a two-run double to Joc Pederson on a ground ball down the first-base line. May walked two more after that but gave up just one more hit and no more runs in 5⅓ innings.

“I wasn’t very crisp at all tonight,” May said.

“I never really found myself. They were just swinging at balls that were in the zone. Just gotta throw more strikes. … I felt fine. Pregame bullpen was fine. Just didn’t have it once I got out there.”

The Giants put the game away in the eighth when they scored three runs on back-to-back home runs by David Villar and Brandon Crawford off Evan Phillips. Phillips had not given up a home run since last May 26 and a total of just two in his first 76-2/3 innings with the Dodgers.

“We’re not going to make any excuses for scoring zero runs,” Freeman said after the Dodgers’ fourth loss in their past five games. “We’re just going to come out tomorrow and try to win a series.”

Orange County Register

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Dodgers held to three hits in shutout loss to Giants

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