Monday, April 25, 2022

Post-Game 16 Thread: Walker Buehler: MLB's First CG SHO In Eight Months

Buehler deals, Snakes heel.

DODGERS 4, D'BACKS 0

Walker Buehler has been good but not great this year: 1-1 with a 4.02 ERA entering this game. But in his fourth start, Buehler dazzled, pitching the majors' first complete game shutout since September 2021. His line: 9.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB and 10 Ks. Buehler's ERA dropped to 2.55.

Just: wow. Way to go, Buehler!

Now on the downside: apparently it was the highest pitch count of anyone this year (as per Joe Davis' call), at 108 pitches. And I'm a little surprised Doc Roberts let Buehler go so long into the game, given his penchant for the early hook, not to mention keeping the starters really protected this season given the lockout-shortened spring. So I guess we'll have to see how Buehler pitches in his next outing, which (with the day off), wouldn't roll aournd until Sunday May 1 vs. the Tigers at home.

The Dodgers got on the board early, using only nine pitches to have Mookie Betts walk, Freddie Freeman double Betts over to third, and Trea Turner double both runners home. Max Muncy, who started the game with a 3-0 count that he worked back into a strikeout (groan), doubled in Betts for another run in the fifth. And Will "Slappy" Smith hit a solo shot to center in the eighth that notched the Dodgers' final run of the game.

Only Justin Turner (0-for-4) and Cody Bellinger (0-for-3) were hitless in the Dodgers' lineup; both players had one K. At this point, one-tenth of the way through the season, only Muncy is sub-Mendoza. But Justin Turner and Mookie Betts are barely above .200 (.203, each), so we've still got a way to go to get this whole team humming.

And as a reminder, the Game Thread for this @Diamondbacks series is here.

photo: AP / Matt York

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