Sports

Dodgers pitchers struggle, issuing 14 walks in series-dropping loss to Padres

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

For so-called superteams like the Dodgers included, there is a universal kryptonite from which even a $300-million payroll isn’t immune.

Walks.

In a 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, the Dodgers issued 14 of them, shooting themselves in the foot again and again and again to drop a three-game weekend series at Chavez Ravine.

Free passes hadn’t exactly been an issue for the Dodgers this season. Entering Sunday, they had the 11th-lowest walk rate in the majors.

But between James Paxton’s wild command (he walked eight in five-plus innings) and more shaky performances from the underbelly of a worn-out bullpen (culminating with a tiebreaking three-spot against J.P. Feyereisen in the seventh inning), the team’s fifth loss in its last nine games felt entirely of its own making.

Not since 1962 had a Dodgers pitching staff walked so many batters in a single game.

And before he began his postgame news conference, manager Dave Roberts couldn’t help but huff a deep sigh of apparent frustration.

“It’s hard to win a baseball game when you give up 14 bases by way of walk,” Roberts said. “Ultimately, it’s going to show itself. And it did today.”

For a while, the Dodgers (11-7) were hoping it might not — enjoying a brief lead in the middle innings courtesy of their star-studded core.

After Paxton largely limited the damage through four innings — a solo home run by Manny Machado was his only early blemish on the scoreboard, thanks in no small part to a couple of key double plays behind him — the Dodgers surged to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, when Will Smith lined an RBI single and Max Muncy clobbered a two-run home run to right.

1. Dodgers starting pitcher James Paxton delivers against the Padres on Sunday. 2. San Diego’s Jurickson Profar hits a three-run double in the seventh innning. 3. Max Muncy runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run for the Dodgers in the fourth inning. 4. Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux tags out San Diego’s Ha-Seong Kim on a stolen-base attempt. 5. Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stands in the dugout during a rain delay before Sunday’s game. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

So far this season, those have been the rallies that typically cancel out the Dodgers’ mistakes. The team will falter on the mound, or in the field, or in a key situational at-bat from the bottom of the lineup — in Roberts’ estimation, the club has played only three or four “complete” games in this opening month — but then their star players will bail them out with a swift, momentum-shifting response.

“We’re still winning,” Roberts said, “more than we’re losing.”

Only, against the Padres (9-9) on Sunday, the team’s pitching staff couldn’t get out of its own way.

In the top of the sixth, Paxton was pulled after walking his final two batters of the game. His eight walks were the most of his 11-year career, and left him with 14 free passes through only three starts this season.

“I made some pitches when I needed to, got out of some big spots [early in the game],” Paxton said. “But you’re not going to get away with walking eight guys very often. … You’re not getting into a flow. You’re just battling.”

Reliever Ryan Brasier didn’t help either. He walked his first batter after entering in the sixth, loading the bases with no outs in the inning.

The Padres then tied the score at 3-3, scoring on a routine double play and two-out infield single from Jackson Merrill, who reached safely after Mookie Betts made a diving stop of his ground ball up the middle but fired an errant throw to first base.

“You’re sort of trying to thread a needle every inning, and trying to play perfect baseball or make a perfect pitch or have the ball hit at the right person in the right spot,” Roberts said of the added difficulties of walking so many batters. “You’re playing with fire. You just can’t play that game.”

San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts, right, and Fernando Tatis Jr., center, congratulate Jake Cronenworth as he crosses the plate on a three-run double hit by Jurickson Profar in the seventh inning Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Without top leverage relievers Evan Phillips and Daniel Hudson, who were both off Sunday after pitching consecutive days, the Dodgers’ lack of late-game options only compounded their problems finding the plate.

In the seventh inning, the recently recalled Feyereisen loaded the bases on two walks and a single — then gave up a bases-clearing, go-ahead three-run double to Jurickson Profar, who was greeted with a smattering of boos after his heated exchange with catcher Will Smith the night before.

In the eighth and ninth, left-handers Alex Vesia and Nick Ramirez combined for three more bases on balls, giving the Dodgers their fourth-most walks in a game in franchise history.

“It was a whole collective effort tonight, as far as the walks,” Roberts said flatly. “We just don’t do that as a staff. So it’s very alarming tonight to watch what we watched.”

Sports

Jerry Jones opens up on Cowboys’ shortcomings during 2025 season

Published

10 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Jerry Jones opens up on Cowboys’ shortcomings during 2025 season

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl drought increased to 30 years as the team was eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday and then lost to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Cowboys showed tremendous heart during the season after the defense was gutted when star pass rusher Micah Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers. Dallas picked up big wins over the Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, as well as a tie with the Packers.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

Ultimately, the Cowboys lost their last three games and found themselves on the outside looking in on the playoffs once more. Dallas dropped to 6-8-1 after the loss to Los Angeles, and team owner Jerry Jones opened up about some of the team’s shortcomings.

“I really am better when I’m getting my a– kicked than I am when I’m having success,” he said, via The Athletic. “I’ve seen some of the decisions I’ve made work.

“We get one team that gets to go to that Super Bowl every year. Two that get to go to those (conference championship) playoff games. I’m looking forward next year to getting back in that championship game and maybe beyond. And then I’ll be right at the top of the list of how long it’s been since you’ve been to one. And that’s how you do it. Right at the top. And this will all go away.”

SHEDEUR SANDERS PUSHES BACK ON QUESTIONS ABOUT COACHING DECISIONS: ‘COME ON, MAN’

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) prepares to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Jones did take away some positivity from the 2025 season. He acknowledged the team “underachieved” but there were some things that the team could carry forward into 2026.

Particularly, Jones said he was impressed with how Dak Prescott played during the year.

Prescott has 4,175 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes this season. He’s leading the NFL in completions (378) and passing attempts (552). Both George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the season.

“I am pleased with what we have in Dak, very pleased going forward,” he said, via the team’s website. “Nothing we’ve done so far this season gives me anything but optimism about going forward at one of the key, if not the key position.”

Bundle FOX One and FOX Nation to stream the entire FOX Nation library, plus live FOX News, Sports, and Entertainment at our lowest price of the year. The offer ends on Jan. 4, 2026. (Fox One; Fox Nation)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Dallas has the Washington Commanders and the New York Giants left on its schedule.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Sports

Palisades starts out as City Section basketball favorite in top 10 rankings

Published

11 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Palisades starts out as City Section basketball favorite in top 10 rankings

It’s time to take a look at the City Section’s top boys’ basketball teams a little more than a month into the season:

1. PALISADES (2-4): The Popoola twins, EJ and OJ, combined with freshman Phillip Reed, make the Dolphins the City Section Open Division title favorites.

2. WASHINGTON PREP (6-4): Jayshawn Kibble is a candidate for City player of the year.

3. CLEVELAND (5-4): Sophomore guard Charlie Adams becomes eligible Friday.

4. GRANADA HILLS (6-3): Help coming when sit-out transfer period ends Friday.

5. SAN PEDRO (7-3): Lots of varsity experience could result in Marine League title.

6. VENICE (5-8): Win over Fairfax, one-point loss to San Pedro.

7. BIRMINGHAM (4-2): Patriots like being under the radar.

8. TAFT (5-4): Turnaround showing progress ahead of schedule.

9. FAIRFAX (5-2): Young players making progress.

10. EL CAMINO REAL (7-5): One-point loss to Chaminade offers hope.

Sports

Broncos’ Pat Bryant placed on backboard, carted off field after scary hit in loss to Jaguars

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Broncos’ Pat Bryant placed on backboard, carted off field after scary hit in loss to Jaguars

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant was carted off the field in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after a vicious hit that was scary to look at.

Bryant was attempting to make a catch with just seconds left at Empower Field when Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown came flying in and crashed into him to break it up.

One could hear how hard Bryant was hit with the broadcast picking up the cracking of helmet and pads as he went to the turf.

Pat Bryant of the Denver Broncos is carted off the field during the fourth quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Empower Field At Mile High on Dec. 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Bryant stayed down on the field after the play, and he wasn’t moving much as Broncos trainers came running out to look at him on the turf.

After several minutes of evaluation, Bryant was loaded onto a stretcher and carted off the field. There was obvious concern throughout the stadium for Bryant, and it was later reported that he was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

2025 NFL WEEK 16 BUZZ: PATRICK MAHOMES BEGINS REHAB; ANDY REID NOT RETIRING?

Broncos head coach Sean Payton, speaking after his first loss in 12 games, gave an update on Bryant, saying that he “had movement” in his extremities, and it was “encouraging” to see, per 9News’ Mike Klis.

Of course, any time a player is loaded onto a stretcher, thoughts of the worst immediately enter the mind. Luckily, Bryant’s hospital visit was only to ensure everything was fine.

The Broncos moved to 12-3 after the loss at home, a 34-20 defeat at the hands of a red-hot Jaguars squad who have now won six straight games.

At 11-4, the Jaguars remain one win above the Houston Texans for the AFC South lead, though they are likely headed to the playoffs one way or another.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have already clinched their shot at a Vince Lombardi Trophy, having won 12 games this season for the best record in the AFC to date. Only the New England Patriots could reach 12 wins this week if they defeat the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football.”

Bryant finished the game with five catches for 42 yards. He has totaled 27 catches for 347 yards and a touchdown this season in a loaded Broncos receiving room.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.