Dodgers hold Mariners to one hit to split series with Seattle

Kenley Jansen

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The best news the Dodgers could have received Tuesday, regardless of whatever happened on the field at T-Mobile Park, was confirmed before they beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0.

Manager Dave Roberts said X-rays on Mookie Betts’ left forearm were negative. He isn’t expected to miss extended time after he was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Monday in a 4-3 loss to the Mariners.

Betts didn’t play Tuesday — he was available only as a pinch-runner — but he’s expected to start Thursday when the Dodgers (14-4) open a four-game series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

“I was hoping it would be soft tissue, something soft tissue,” Roberts said. “As opposed to the wrist or elbow or something like that. So I guess [this is] best-case scenario and there was a slight exhale once he wanted to stay in there. So that’s part of it, the soreness, but I think that we dodged a bullet there.”

The game itself was a pitcher’s duel. The Dodgers struggled to score for the fourth straight game, but a three-man pitching crew made sure the one run held up. Julio Urías recorded the best start of his career, Victor Gonzalez tossed a scoreless eighth inning, and vintage Kenley Jansen emerged to shut the door in the ninth for the Dodgers’ fifth shutout win in 11 games.

Urías held Seattle to one hit and a walk with a career-high 11 strikeouts over seven innings. The Mainers’ only hit off him was Mitch Haniger’s two-out dribbler for an infield single in the third inning. Their only other baserunner against Urias reached on a walk in the first inning.

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Dodgers: Former Dodger Casey Sadler now in for the Mariners. Pollock grounded to second. Rios walked. Barnes grounded into a 1-6-3 double play. Sadler made a nice jumping grab to start the double play.

Mariners: Victor Gonzalez now pitching for the Dodgers. Torrens grounded to short. Ty France, batting for Trammell, struck out swinging. Moore walked. While Crawford was batting, Moore stole second. Crawford grounded to the pitcher.

Score after eight: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Dodgers: Smith struck out looking. Muncy grounded to second. McKinstry lined to short.

Mariners: Seager grounded to first. White struck out swinging. Murphy flied to left. This game is sailing right along.

Score after seven innings: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Dodgers: Taylor grounded to short. Seager flied to center. Turner grounded to third.

Mariners: Crawford flied to left. Haniger grounded to third. Lewis flied to left. No strikeouts that inning. What’s wrong with Urias?

Score after six: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Dodgers: Pollock struck out looking. Rios grounded to second. Barnes struck out swinging.

Mariners: Torrens struck out looking. Trammell struck out swinging. Moore struck out looking. Ten strikeouts for Urias through five innings. And 10 strikeouts means a free Jumbo Jack with a large drink purchase at any participating L.A.-area Jack in the Box Wednesday. There was much rejoicing throughout the land.

Score after five: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Julio Urias

(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Dodgers: Smith flied to center. Muncy grounded to third. McKinstry struck out swinging.

Mariners: Seager popped to short. White struck out swinging. Murphy struck out swinging. UrĂ­as has struck out seven through four innings, throwing 54 pitches (40 for strikes).

Score after four: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Dodgers: AJ Pollock doubled down the left-field line. Edwin Rios grounded to second, Pollock to third. Austin Barnes walked. Taylor lined to second. Amazing grab by the second baseman, who had to drive to his right to grab it in mid-air. Corey Seager singled to center, Pollock scoring, Barnes to second. Turner struck out looking.

Mariners: Dylan Moore grounded to short. J.P. Crawford struck out swinging. Haniger hit a little nubber and beat it out for a single. There goes the no-hitter. Lewis lined to center.

Score after three: Dodgers 1, Mariners 0

Dodgers: Will Smith struck out swinging. Max Muncy and Zach McKinstry grounded to short.

Mariners: Tom Murphy struck out swinging. Luis Torrens grounded to first. Taylor Trammell struck out looking.

Score after two innings: Dodgers 0, Mariners 0

Dodgers: Left-hander Marco Gonzales pitching for the Mariners. Chris Taylor popped to short. Corey Seager fouled to third. Justin Turner fouled to the catcher.

Mariners: Julio Urias pitching for the Dodgers. Mitch Haniger struck out swinging. Kyle Lewis walked. Kyle Seager flied to center. Evan White struck out swinging.

Score after one: Dodgers 0, Mariners 0

Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger warms up before a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics in March.

(Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)

The Dodgers were already dealing with injuries to key players in their lineup before Mookie Betts took a pitch off his forearm Monday night.

The offense has struggled over the last three games, tallying just 11 hits, with Cody Bellinger (fibula) and Gavin Lux (wrist) on the injured list.

Lux is expected to return before Bellinger.

He hasn’t started since last Wednesday. He was scratched from the lineup the next day and placed on the injured list Sunday. The stint is retroactive to April 16 so Lux is eligible for activation early next week.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that he expects Lux to come off the injured list immediately. The plan is for him to take on-field batting practice Thursday and face live pitching this weekend.

Roberts declined to give a timetable on Bellinger’s return. The center fielder hasn’t played since suffering a hairline fracture in his left fibula April 5.

He still hasn’t run at full speed and will need to take live at-bats before returning. Roberts said Bellinger will likely face live pitching at the team’s alternate training site in Arizona.

“With the alt site there, to have the ability for him to take as many at-bats as he needs, play the defense, see pitches, it’s a better forum compared to what we have here,” Roberts said. “So that certainly is a likely option at some point.”

Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts will not start against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after taking a 95-mph pitch to his right forearm in Monday’s loss.

(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

The Dodgers seemingly avoided disaster after Mookie Betts was plunked in the right forearm by a 95-mph sinker in Monday’s loss to the Seattle Mariners.

The star outfielder isn’t in the team’s lineup Tuesday, but manager Dave Roberts said X-rays on Betts’ forearm were negative and he could start again as soon as Thursday against the Padres.

“He came in feeling pretty good,” Roberts said, “sore.”

Roberts said Betts could possibly be used as a pinch-runner Tuesday, but he wasn’t sure if he could throw or hit.

Betts was hit in the ninth inning by Mariners right-hander Rafael Montero. He dropped to the ground in pain, prompting an immediate visit from Roberts and trainer Yosuke Nakajima.

“I was hoping it would be soft tissue, something soft tissue,” Roberts said. “As opposed to the wrist or elbow or something like that. So I guess [this is] best-case scenario and there was a slight exhale once he was wanted to stay in there. So that’s part of it, the soreness, but I think that we dodged a bullet there.”

Betts stayed in the game to run the bases. Moments later, Corey Seager grounded out to end the game.

The Dodgers have just two other players — Sheldon Neuse and Luke Raley — on their bench Tuesday because they’re carrying 12 position players and 14 pitchers on their roster after starting the season with an even split.

Roberts said he expects the Dodgers to continue carrying 14 pitchers at least through the weekend if Betts is available to play Thursday.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Marco Gonzalez will start against the Dodgers on Tuesday.

(Alex Gallardo / Associated Press)

It isn’t often that the Dodgers play a Tuesday matinee game but that is what is on tap as they look to end their first string of consecutive losses versus a Seattle Mariners team tied with the Boston Red Sox for the best record in the American League.

The Mariners will look to starting pitcher Marco Gonzalez to recapture his command of 2020 as he led the league in walks per nine innings with 0.90 en route to a7-2 record with a 3.10 ERA. His seven walks in 15.1 innings in three starts this season is already as many as he had in 11 starts and 69 2/3 innings last season. His ERA stands at 8.22.

For the Dodgers, Julio UrĂ­as will look to get back into form after allowing a combined eight runs, three home runs and 16 hits in 11 2/3 innings across his last two starts.

Both teams are dealing with injuries. Gavin Lux and Cody Bellinger are both on the injured list and Mookie Betts will not start after being hit in his right forearm with a 95-mph pitch during Monday’s loss. Kyle Lewis, the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year, is expected to make his season debut Tuesday afternoon. The timing of Lewis’ return is made more significant with Mariners on-base percentage leader Ty France exiting Monday’s 4-3 victory with an injury.

The Mariners are 13-4 on the run line, which is tied with the Red Sox for the best mark in the league while 11 of the Dodgers 13 wins have been by at least two runs while both teams back up their starting pitchers with bullpens that are in the top eight of the league in ERA.

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Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, who was injured after being hit with a 95-mph pitch Monday, is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game.

(Ashley Landis / Associated Press)

Less than 12 hours after Mookie Betts was hit in the left forearm by a 95-mph sinker, the Dodgers revealed their lineup for Tuesday’s matinee against the Mariners and Betts isn’t in it.

The Dodgers lost Monday’s two-game series opener, 4-3, but that took a backseat to Betts’ forearm. The star outfielder was 2 for 4 Monday before Rafael Montero plunked him. The thump was loud and dropped Betts to the ground in pain.

He stayed in the game after a brief stoppage. The next batter, Corey Seager, then grounded into a double play to end the game.

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts was scheduled to undergo tests.

Betts was the second player to get hit in the right forearm Monday; Mariners third baseman took a 98-mph two-seam fastball from Dustin May in the same spot in the fifth inning. He initially stayed in the game to run the bases but departed before the start of the sixth inning.

Betts, 28, missed four games earlier this season with a lower back injury. The Dodgers are already without Cody Bellinger (fibula), Gavin Lux (wrist), Tony Gonsolin (shoulder), and Joe Kelly (shoulder), all of whom are on the injured list.

Betts, usually the right fielder. played center field Monday. Chris Taylor will start in center Tuesday and Zach McKinstry will play right field against left-hander Marco Gonzalez, who enters with an 8.22 ERA in three starts.

Julio UrĂ­as will take the mound for the Dodgers for his fourth start.

The Dodgers have lost consecutive games for the first time this season. They haven’t had a three-game losing streak since dropping three games against the Diamondbacks Aug. 29-31, 2019.

DODGERS (13-4)

Chris Taylor CF

Corey Seager SS

Justin Turner 3B

Will Smith DH

Max Muncy 2B

Zach McKinstry RF

AJ Pollock LF

Edwin RĂ­os 1B

Austin Barnes C

Julio UrĂ­as P

Dodgers star Mookie Betts is hit by a pitch during the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday. It’s unclear if he will play Tuesday.

(Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)

The Dodgers lost to the Seattle Mariners 4-3 on Monday night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle to drop consecutive games for the first time this season, but they might have suffered a more significant loss before the game was over.

Mookie Betts crumpled to the ground, biting his gold chain in pain, in the ninth inning when Seattle right-hander Rafael Montero hit him on the right forearm with a 95-mph sinker. Betts drew an immediate visit from manager Dave Roberts and trainer Yosuke Nakajima. He eventually stayed in the game. Corey Seager then grounded into a double play to seal the defeat.

After the game, Roberts said Betts will undergo tests. He said he didn’t know whether Betts will play in Tuesday’s matinee. Betts went two for four before he was plunked.

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Dodgers: Braden Bishop in the game at left. Rafael Montero now pitching for the Mariners. He had eight saves last season with Texas, two this season with Seattle. Raley flied to center. Rios walked on six pitches. Betts was hit in the right forearm by a pitch, and it looked bad. He stayed in the game though. Seager grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

Dodgers: Taylor grounded to second. Pollock struck out swinging. McKinstry flied to center.

Mariners: Scott Alexander now pitching for the Dodgers. Haggerty struck out looking. Seager popped to shallow left, McKinstry making the play. Marmolejos grounded to first.

Score after eight: Mariners 4, Dodgers 3

Dustin May

(Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)

The next step in Dustin May’s development entering the season was generating more swing-and-misses to then produce more strikeouts.

The right-hander boasts an elite arsenal – he touches 100 mph and can make hitters look foolish with the movement on his pitchers—but he recorded just 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings last season. The number didn’t match the stuff.

As a result, May’s focus was on improving his curveball to change speeds and hitters’ eye levels. Monday was a significant step in the right direction.

All eight of May’s strikeouts came on Mariners whiffing on curveballs. He’s had at least six strikeouts in his three starts this season and 22 total.

Overall, May surrendered four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk in five innings. He gave up a two-run home run to Jose Marmolejos in the first inning and a solo shot to Taylor Trammell in the second inning.

Chris Taylor’s error with two outs in the fourth inning ended up hurting May when Trammell followed with an RBI double.

Dodgers: Left-hander Anthony Misiewicz now pitching for the Mariners. Rios flied to center. Betts singled to left. Seager walked. Nice at-bat for Seager, who took some close pitches. With Turner coming up, Misiewicz leaves the game, replaced by right-hander Kendall Graveman, who hasn’t allowed an earned run this season. Turner struck out swinging. Smith, who is a fierce slump (and hitting .216), hit a shot to third. Dylan Moore made a great leaping grab, snowconing the ball for the third out.

Mariners: Jimmy Nelson now pitching for the Dodgers. Moore (remember what I said, that if you make a great defensive play it means you are leading off the next inning), flied to center. J.P. Crawford’s bat shattered as he grounded to Seager, who was on the right side of the infield for the shift. Haniger flied to right.

Score after seven: Mariners 4, Dodgers 3

Dave Roberts

(Associated Press)

Dave Roberts has enjoyed great success in his six-plus seasons as Dodgers manager. He’s led the club to six National League West titles, three World Series appearances, and the franchise’s first championship in 32 years.

But did you know he owns the highest winning percentage in the history of Major League Baseball? He didn’t either.

“I did not know that,” Roberts said before Monday’s game against the Mariners. “Obviously, we got a really, really talented team, have had talented teams. But I guess that puts it in perspective, but that’s pretty cool. It’s cool and hopefully I can add on to that by winning tonight.”

Roberts entered Monday with a 449-277 record in the regular season. That’s a .618 winning percentage, just better than Hall of Famer Joe McCarthy’s .615.

McCarthy went 2,125-1,333 in 24 seasons woth the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox between 1926 and 1950. He won seven World Series, all with the Yankees.

Two other active managers are in the top 10 all-time; Aaron Boone of the Yankees is fifth with a .604 winning percentage and Alex Cora of the Red Sox is ninth at .594.

Connie Mack’s 3,731 wins across 53 seasons are the most ever. Tony La Russa, who returned to the dugout this season with the Chicago White Sox, leads all active managers and is third all-time with 2,736 wins. Roberts’ 449 wins entering Monday was 153rd in history.

“I think I’ve got a ways to go,” Roberts said. “And, like I said, it helps when you got a lot of great players, for sure.”

Dodgers: Sam Haggerty in the game at third base for the Mariners. Moore to third base. France, who was hit by a pitch last inning, out of the game. Turner walked. Smith lined to center. Taylor was hit by a pitch. First and second, one out. Sheffield is taking a lot of time between pitches now. Pollock struck out swinging at a terrible pitch. McKinstry singled to center, Turner scoring, Taylor stopping at second. It’s 4-3 Mariners. And that’s it for Sheffield. Right-hander Will Vest now pitching. Luke Raley hits for Neuse. He struck out swinging.

Mariners: David Price now pitching for the Dodgers. Marmolejos fouled to first. White walked. Torrens forced White at second. Trammell popped to first.

Score after six: Mariners 4, Dodgers 3

Cody Bellinger

(Associated Press)

Cody Bellinger isn’t returning to the Dodgers lineup for at least another week, but he’s with the club on its road trip as he works to return from the injured list.

Bellinger hasn’t played since Oakland Athletics reliever Reymin Guduan stepped on his left leg in a race to first base April 5. Bellinger was initially diagnosed with a contusion but tests late last week revealed a hairline fracture in his fibula, pushing his return further back.

Roberts said Bellinger “had a really good day” Monday.

“Did some light jogging, taking some swings, played catch,” Bellinger said. “ So today was a good, considerable day. Hopefully he comes out of the day feeling good and just continues to progress.”

The Dodgers have used Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts in center field in Bellinger’s absence. Betts started in center field Monday.

Dodgers: Rios flied to center. Betts lined to right. Seager grounded to second. Only five pitches to get out of the inning, as the Dodgers have abandoned their patient approach.

Mariners: Crawford struck out swinging. Haniger struck out swinging. France got hit on the left elbow and right forearm by a pitch. Seager flied to deep center.

Score after five: Mariners 4, Dodgers 2

Dodgers: Taylor walked on four pitches. Pollock fouled to first. McKinstry struck out swinging. With Neuse batting, Taylor stole second. Neuse struck out swinging. Sheffield has thrown 70 pitches through four innings.

Mariners: Marmolejos, who homered his last time up, struck out swinging. White grounded to the pitcher. Torrens reached first on Taylor’s fielding error. Trammell, who homered his last time up doubled to right. The count was 3-2 so Torrens, a catcher, was running on the pitch, allowing even a slow catcher to score. Moore struck out looking. May has thrown 71 pitches through four innings.

Score after four innings: Mariners 4, Dodgers 2

The Dodgers traveled from San Diego to Seattle on Sunday, after taking two of three games in an exhilarating series with the Padres, for a quick two-game set against the Mariners.

The next time they’re on the road, their lives off the field may closer resemble pre-pandemic times.

Before Monday’s game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team is “darn close” to reaching the 85% vaccination threshold Major League Baseball established to incentive clubs to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Roberts said he didn’t know how many people in Tier 1 have had their first or second vaccine dose.

On March 29, three days before Opening day, the league sent a three-page memo to organizations, players, and staff members March 29 to inform them the ways in which the strict health and safety protocols implemented to avoid outbreaks would loosen for players who get vaccinated and teams that reach the 85% line among their Tier 1 personnel.

Fully vaccinated individuals – people are deemed fully vaccinated two weeks after the final dose – can gather on team planes, trains, and buses. They can spend time with other vaccinated people indoors without masks or distancing outside of team facility. Their virus testing is reduced from every other day to twice a week and vaccinated family or household members can stay at the team hotel on the road.

Teams that reach the 85% threshold don’t have to wear masks in the dugout or bullpen. They can eat at indoor restaurants, have nonvaccinated family or household members stay with players and staff members at the team hotel, and take part in shared clubhouse activities. That includes video games. Contract tracing is also measure are also lightened; players don’t have to be quarantined if they are exposed to someone who tests positive.

The Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins have had games postponed this season because of positive tests. The Houston Astros placed five players on the COVID-19 list last week, but their schedule wasn’t affected.

Mariners manager Scott Servais told reporters Monday that 10 teams had reached the 85% threshold. He admitted his club hasn’t and – based on internal polling – he isn’t sure if his team will this season.

Teams, and individuals, have handled the matter differently.

The Milwaukee Brewers took part in a public service announcement encouraging people to receive the vaccine. The New York Mets scheduled education sessions for players with doctors ahead of offering the vaccine. The Angels and St. Louis Cardinals are among the few teams to share that they’ve reached the threshold.

Dodger Stadium served as one of the largest COVID-19 testing sites and it’s now serving as one of the largest vaccination sites. Dodgers president baseball of operations Andrew Friedman has said he expects the team to reach 85%. Clayton Kershaw and Roberts both publicly said they would take the vaccine.

Others have preferred to stay mum.

“I think we kind of keep those things in the clubhouse,” Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts said before the season started. “These are all personal decisions for guys. They’ve got to do what’s best for them and their families. Obviously, we are all a team. But that vaccination, that whole situation is a personal decision. So I’d like to leave it in the clubhouse.”

First baseman Max Muncy echoed Betts a week later when the club was in Oakland, saying that the team had decided they wouldn’t talk about it.

“It comes down to personal medical history and personal medical choices,” Dodgers starter Trevor Bauer said at the end of spring training. “So I don’t really want to speak on that.”

The Dodgers avoided any COVID-19 scares last season until Justin Turner tested positive during the World Series and was pulled late in Game 6. This year, Brusdar Graterol reported to spring training behind schedule after dealing with the virus during the offseason and wasn’t activated until Sunday.

Otherwise, the virus hasn’t kept Dodgers players from games or impacted their schedule, an advantage not every team has enjoyed.

Dodgers: Sheldon Neuse, which sounds like the name of a nosy neighbor on a 1960s sitcom, grounded to short. Edwin Rios flied to center. Betts doubled to deep right-center. Seager homered to deep center, scoring Betts. Turner doubled down the left-field line. Smith struck out looking on three pitches.

Mariners: Haniger struck out swinging. France grounded to third. Seager struck out swinging.

Score after three: Mariners 3, Dodgers 2

Dodgers: Chris Taylor struck out looking. AJ Pollock flied to center. Zach McKinstry grounded to first, pitcher covering. The offense is very flat right now. Only three hits yesterday. The players look lifeless out there.

Mariners: Luis Torrens grounded to short. Taylor Trammell homered to center. Dylan Moore lined to left. J.P Crawford walked. With Haniger batting, Crawford stole second. The Dodgers called for a review, and replay showed he came off the bag slightly while Taylor applied the tag. Inning over.

Score after two: Mariners 3, Dodgers 0

Dodgers: Left-hander Justus Sheffield pitching for the Mariners. Mookie Betts struck out swinging. Corey Seager grounded to short. Justin Turner walked on four pitches. Will Smith flied to right.

Mariners: Dustin May pitching for the Dodgers. Mitch Haniger struck out swinging. Ty France singled to left. There goes the no-hitter. Kyle Seager, brother of Corey, struck out swinging. Jose Marmolejos homered to right. It’s 2-0 Seattle. Evan White grounded to first.

Score after first inning: Mariners 2, Dodgers 0