Dodgers struggle at the plate, get swept by rival Giants in shutout loss

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SAN FRANCISCO — Dave Roberts’ scrum with reporters Sunday morning began with a discussion about Walker Buehler’s injury and the void the pitcher’s absence will create for the rest of the staff.

Amid his team’s recent slump, however, the conversation quickly turned to another of Roberts’ frustrations — one he believed was more widespread within the Dodgers’ clubhouse and much harder for the typically mild-mannered manager to reconcile.

In what were unsolicited comments, Roberts said the team’s mindset needed to improve, that the Dodgers’ sense of urgency, especially at the plate, needed to change.

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SAN FRANCISCO — The Dodgers could not mount a late comeback to salvage anything from this series, instead getting shutout for the third time this season in a 2-0 defeat that seals a series sweep for the Giants at Oracle Park.

Despite a six-inning, two-run, 10-strikeout performance from Julio UrĂ­as, clutch hitting was once again a problem for the Dodgers, who went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base.

The Dodgers dropped to 37-23, and saw their once 6.5 game edge over the Giants in the NL West standings trimmed to 3.5 (the San Diego Padres also remain a half-game back in the division).

Final: Giants 2, Dodgers 0

Rinse and repeat for the Dodgers in the eighth inning.

After singles from Trea Turner and Justin Turner, the Dodgers had runners on the corners with two outs but came up empty again, after Chris Taylor struck out to end the inning.

The Dodgers are now 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and have left nine men on base. Justin Turner’s single was their first hit of the day with a man on base — and initially appears capable of scoring Trea Turner from first, had he not appeared to slow up while watching right fielder Mike Yastrzemski made a failed diving effort at the ball.

Mid 8th: Giants lead 2-0

Julio UrĂ­as turned what was one of his worst first innings this season into one of his best outings of the year.

After giving up the two first-inning blasts, he retired 16 in a row and stranded a double in the sixth. He finished his day after six innings, racking up a season-high 10 strikeouts.

He exits on the hook for a loss, however, as the Dodgers continue to struggle with runners on base.

Four times today, they’ve had the leadoff man reach (three of which came on doubles) but haven’t been able to score on any of them — the latest missed opportunity coming in a seventh inning that ended on a Mookie Betts fielder’s choice grounder, dropping him to 2-for-his-last-31.

Mid 7th: Giants lead 2-0

Julio UrĂ­as has settled down since the first inning, retiring 11 in a row and racking up six strikeouts.

The Dodgers’ lineup, however, is still struggling to hit its stride.

The team had leadoff runners reach in the second inning (a Will Smith double) and the fourth (a Freddie Freeman walk). They couldn’t take advantage of either, though.

End 4th: Giants lead 2-0

Despite Dave Roberts’ pregame message about urgency, the Dodgers did not get off to a good start.

After the lineup went down in order in the first inning, Julio UrĂ­as gave up two home runs in the bottom half. Austin Slater led off with a solo blast to center. Mike Yastrzemski added another solo jack to left.

UrĂ­as has now given up 12 home runs in 12 starts this year.

End 1st: Giants lead 2-0

SAN FRANCISCO — Dave Roberts’ pregame scrum with reporters on Sunday morning started with questions about injured starter Walker Buehler, and how the pitching staff will compensate in his absence over the next couple months.

With the Dodgers mired in a 4-8 skid and trying to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Giants, however, the manager changed gears after a few minutes — targeting his focus not on the injured All-Star right-hander, but the lack of results from the rest of the club’s star-studded roster over the last few weeks.

“It’s the mindset of coming together as a group to win a baseball game,” Roberts said. “I just don’t think we’ve done a good job of that. People get caught up in their own individual paths, but the whole focusing on just winning a game, and whatever it takes to win that day, we got to get back to that mindset.”

Roberts was asked why that mindset hasn’t been there.

“I don’t know that answer, but I need to figure it out,” he said. “Because it’s getting more clear that we’re not doing enough to win baseball games. We’re too talented. I need to find that out.”

He was asked if the players have had the right sense of urgency of late.

“I’m gonna find that out too,” he said. “I know I do. It’s not about trying. We all know it’s not a ‘try league.’ We need to all come together to start winning baseball games. That’s the only goal.”

He said he has felt it most of late with the offense, which has averaged just 3.8 runs per game the past two weeks and struggled in critical situations with runners on base.

“I just think the urgency to do whatever it takes to win that night on the offensive side hasn’t been there,” he said. “Cumulatively, the sum of runs has been there, but the consistency of output hasn’t been there. The consistency is what helps you win more than you lose.”

He added: “It’s not a lack of care. It’s not a lack of try. But the mindset has to get back to whatever it takes to win a game.”

And how does Roberts plan to find out those answers?

“There’s gonna be some conversations,” he said.

Here’s the Dodgers lineup for Sunday’s game, which will feature a high-profile pitching matchup of Julio Urías (3-5, 2.78 ERA) vs. Carlos Rodón (4-4, 3.51 ERA).

Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:

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SAN FRANCISCO — On a day Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound for the first time in a month, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Walker Buehler might not do so again for at least “a good bit of time.”

Such was the dichotomy surrounding the Dodgers on Saturday, when neither their 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants nor Kershaw’s four-inning, two-run start coming back from injury was their biggest concern.

Instead, the status of Buehler’s injured right elbow hung over the club.

A night after exiting a start early because of right elbow discomfort, Buehler was diagnosed with an elbow strain Saturday after undergoing an MRI exam in Los Angeles and was put on the injured list.

According to Roberts, Buehler won’t need surgery and, as of now, is expected to pitch again. However, he won’t pick up a ball for six to eight weeks, then will need to rebuild arm strength and stamina, as if it were the start of spring training.

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