CHICAGO –– The Dodgers have developed a bad habit over the past week.
And on Sunday, in a 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox, it cost them their first series loss in more than a month.
Entering the sixth inning at Rate Field with a one-run lead, the Dodgers had appeared to be safely in control. Their offense hadn’t scored since Freddie Freeman’s home run in the first inning. But Emmet Sheehan had been almost flawless over five one-hit, eight-strikeout innings.
Alas, as has been the case recently, the Dodgers couldn’t find an answer once things began to spiral.
In a six-run inning keyed by three back-breaking home runs, the Dodgers watched an opponent put just the latest crooked number up on the scoreboard.
It was the fifth time in their last seven games that they had allowed at least four runs in an inning. It was the fourth time out of those five games that they were unable to rally and salvage a win.
The implosion started with Sheehan, who gave up a leadoff home run to Sam Antonacci on a high 0-2 fastball that didn’t climb the ladder enough. Two batters later, he was chased from the game following an RBI double from Andrew Benintendi. Then, as soon as he got back to the dugout, he watched his replacement, Jack Dreyer, yield a two-run homer to Colson Montgomery.
Dreyer would give up another two-run shot, this time to Chase Meidroth, before finally recording the inning’s first out.
And by the time it was all over, the Dodgers were too far gone for a comeback –– clawing within two runs after scoring in each of the final three innings, but ending the game with the tying runs on base.
What it means
Just like on Friday night (when the White Sox won on the back of a seven-run fifth), and Wednesday night (when the Pirates stormed back with a five-run eighth) and last Sunday (when the Angels pulled away with a six-spot in the seventh), the Dodgers capitulated beneath an inability to limit slug or contain damage, with a recently scuffling bullpen looming large once again.
The loss left the Dodgers (45-27) with a .500 record on this Pittsburgh-Chicago road trip, and marked their first series defeat since the MLB-leading Braves came to Los Angeles in early May.
The upstart and first-place White Sox (38-32) have been an unexpectedly tricky opponent, with Dodgers coaches repeatedly praising their energy and athleticism this week.
Still, Sunday’s game should have been winnable. Instead, the team’s quiet offensive performance came back to haunt them as the White Sox pulled away.
Who’s hot
Mookie Betts’ weekend will be remembered for the perfect-game-snapping error he made on Saturday.
But at the plate, the scuffling shortstop finally showed some life, following up a three-hit performance on Saturday with two more knocks –– including an eighth-inning homer –– in Sunday’s loss.
As a result, Betts raised his batting average to .204, marking the first time since the opening weekend of the season he has finished a day hitting over the .200 mark.
Who’s not
After a promising rookie season in 2025, and a strong couple months to open this campaign, the month of June has not been friendly to Dreyer, especially when it comes to keeping the ball in the park.
With Sunday’s pair of long balls, Dreyer has now allowed five home runs in seven appearances this month.
That has nearly doubled his ERA on the season, from 2.08 at the end of May to 3.77 after Sunday’s meltdown.
And it has made him one of many culprits for the Dodgers’ recent bullpen struggles, after the unit already entered Sunday with the third-highest ERA in the majors during June.
Up next
The Dodgers return home on Monday to open a series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Eric Lauer (2-5, 5.47 ERA) will take the mound opposite right-hander Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.43 ERA).