The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a challenging night against the Houston Astros, losing 5-0 in a game where their depleted lineup struggled to generate offense. With key players like Max Muncy, Mookie Betts, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor, and Freddie Freeman absent, the Dodgers fell victim to strong pitching from Astros starter Framber Valdez. Valdez held the Dodgers to four hits and struck out 10 batters in a dominant performance.
The Dodgers’ only run of the game was taken away on a replay review, further adding to their frustrations. Pitcher Gavin Stone, who had been a reliable presence in the rotation, had a tough outing in July as batters hit .369 against him with five home runs in just 18⅔ innings.
Stone acknowledged that hitters had adjusted to him, leading to his struggles in the month. Manager Dave Roberts pointed to Stone working from behind in the count and not landing his changeup for strikes as factors in his recent performances. Despite the challenges, Roberts sees Stone’s ability to pitch six innings as a positive sign of growth for the young pitcher.
The Dodgers will continue to face obstacles with injuries and pitching inconsistencies but remain hopeful that their lineup will find ways to scratch across runs in upcoming games. The team remains focused on learning and improving as they navigate a challenging season.
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