Dodgers fall to Red Sox 4-3 on July 27 as Alex Bregman's HR sinks Walker Buehler. Read how Blake Treinen's return couldn't spark a comeback at Fenway.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a frustrating Sunday at Fenway Park as the Los Angeles Dodgers dropped the rubber match to the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, losing the series after a promising start. A fifth-inning, two-run homer by Alex Bregman off Walker Buehler proved to be the decisive blow, spoiling an otherwise solid day for the offense and overshadowing a significant shakeup in the Dodgers' bullpen that saw the long-awaited return of a key veteran arm.
He threw the baseball really well... that [error] was an outlier play.
The game was a classic Fenway nail-biter that ultimately slipped through the Dodgers' fingers. Walker Buehler battled for five innings but was tagged for four earned runs, with the Bregman homer being the back-breaker. The offense showed flashes of life, with Michael Conforto launching a monstrous 424-foot solo shot and both Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman driving in a run each. However, after the fifth inning, the bats went silent. The bullpen, including a newly activated Blake Treinen, did its job, holding Boston scoreless the rest of the way, but the lineup couldn't muster the comeback, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
The biggest news off the field was the return of Blake Treinen. Activated from the injured list before the game, the veteran reliever immediately made his presence felt with a scoreless inning of work, a welcome sight for a bullpen that has weathered its share of storms. To make room, the Dodgers recalled lefty Justin Wrobleski while optioning right-handers Will Klein and Edgardo Henriquez to Triple-A. This shakeup provides a fresh look and, in Treinen, a potential high-leverage weapon for the stretch run. With closer Evan Phillips out for the season, Treinen's health and effectiveness will be one of the most critical storylines to watch.
While young righty Edgardo Henriquez was sent back to the minors, he left with a vote of confidence from his manager. Dave Roberts praised Henriquez's three scoreless appearances, noting he 'threw the baseball really well.' Roberts downplayed a costly throwing error from a previous game, calling it an 'outlier play' and expressing optimism that Henriquez will build on the positive aspects of his brief MLB stint. It's a tough part of the business, but the message is clear: the Dodgers see potential, and this is a developmental step, not a final verdict.
The injury bug continues to linger. Utility man Kiké Hernández remains on the 10-day IL with left elbow inflammation, and Roberts described him as being in a 'holding pattern' until the pain subsides, targeting an August return at the earliest. This update, combined with the season-ending Tommy John surgeries for Evan Phillips, Kyle Hurt, and River Ryan, underscores the fragility of pitching depth and the importance of moves like Treinen's activation.
Losing two straight at Fenway is a bitter pill to swallow, but the Dodgers remain atop the NL West. With Blake Treinen back in the fold, the bullpen gets a much-needed boost, but the offense needs to find its clutch gene again. All eyes now turn to the front office as the trade deadline approaches. Will they make another move to solidify this roster for a deep October run? This next week will be telling.
