Wrigley visit is ho-hum triumph
Dodgers get their first sweep there since 2013 as Buehler is stellar in his 100th career start.
DODGERS 7 CHICAGO CUBS 1
CHICAGO — It was baseball at its most boring, which meant the Dodgers were also at their best.
On Sunday night at Wrigley Field, there was little tension, thrill or suspense. Instead, the Dodgers completed a dominant threegame sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a stress free 7-1 win.
The 31,424 inside the ballpark, and the national television audience watching on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” weren’t treated to many highlights. The Dodgers’ runs came on two sacrifice flies, a wild pitch, an error, an infield single and even a double play. There was a strong seven-inning, onerun start from pitcher Walker Buehler, who still isn’t at his peak.
The most memorable moment? Cubs catcher Willson Contreras accidentally hitting Max Muncy in the groin area while trying to recover a wild pitch.
The closest the slumping Cubs came to posing a threat? A first-inning RBI single by Contreras, giving the hosts an early lead that soon disappeared after the Dodgers scored two runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth and three more for good measure over the final three
innings, sending the visitors to their sixth straight win and first series sweep on Chicago’s North Side since 2013.
“I just thought the way we played these last three games was more typical of our expectations,” manager Dave Roberts said after his team outscored the Cubs by a combined 20-3.
Indeed, this is what the Dodgers are capable of doing — especially against opponents overmatched by their talent-rich roster.
They suffocate teams on the mound, with a rotation and bullpen that each has an argument as one of the best in baseball.
They grind down pitchers at the plate, finding ways to draw walks and move baserunners and build big innings even with parts of their lineup slumping.
They can drain the drama from a game, winning by at least five runs for the ninth time this season Sunday.
“This never gets old,” Roberts said with a smirk after the game.
Added infielder Gavin Lux: “I think two-, three-, four-run leads probably feel like a lot more than they are [against us].”
Buehler (4-1) had the most impressive performance Sunday. After surrendering the first-inning run against Contreras, which came on an 0-and-2 fastball he left over the heart of the plate, the righthander rolled through the rest of his 100th career start. On the night, he gave up four hits and two walks while striking out six.
“I think I just pitch a little bit now,” said Buehler, whose career 2.70 ERA is the fourth best among major league pitchers through 100 starts since 1969, according to MLB. “I think back then, I just tried to pick up my leg and throw it by everyone. I think my goals are a little bit different, trying to be efficient and trying to get deep into games.
“It takes some years to realize that’s a huge part of this game, trying to get deep and save bullpens. Those are little wins as the season goes on.”
The Dodgers’ offense has also been succeeding with little wins at the plate, getting three hits from Cody Bellinger and two apiece from Lux, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts to score at least seven runs for the seventh time this season.
“It’s pretty amazing, 26 games in, that we’re not completely clicking,” Freeman said, “and we’re 19-7.”
Added Roberts: “When you can have a game, or three games, that are essentially straightforward and you save your leverage guys for the next series, that’s always a good thing.”
Treinen and González will be out long term
Roberts said reliever Blake Treinen won’t be returning until at least after the All-Star break as he continues to battle shoulder inflammation.
Treinen, who has been out since April 14, had one set of MRI exams after the injury that didn’t reveal any structural damage but was scheduled to see a doctor Monday and have more scans taken.
However, that doctor visit likely won’t happen now, according to Roberts, who said Treinen is going to focus on rehabilitating his shoulder in hopes of returning to the mound for the “stretch run” of the season.
“I just think he feels he’s just gonna rehab it and he doesn’t need any other opinions,” Roberts said. “Now we’ve decided that we’re gonna rest it, strengthen it and get him back here.”
Victor González also will miss more time, with the left-hander set to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his elbow Wednesday. González should be back this season, but the team won’t know a timetable until after the procedure.
‘I think my goals are a little bit different ... trying to get deep into games.’
— Walker Buehler, on how he has matured as a pitcher