Despite Snell’s strong performance, the Dodgers’ offense fizzled once again, and they dropped a 2-1 decision as Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle walked off Los Angeles in the ninth inning.
Snell has been dominant since returning from a three-month absence following right elbow surgery, though he encountered a hiccup in the third inning. He allowed the first three batters to reach base and allowed a run, but he managed to escape the jam. During that tense at-bat, Snell motioned to catcher Ben Rortvedt and the home plate umpire, prompting a brief delay and a quick huddle as Tigers manager A.J. Hinch sought an explanation. Snell returned to the field moments later to a chorus of boos from the ballpark, tossed a warm-up pitch, and resumed pitching. The sequence left Dodgers broadcasters puzzled about the events.
After the game, Snell clarified the moment. He explained that he was slipping on the mound and needed to remove a bandaid covering a blister on his toe. “Anytime I was pushing, I was slipping, and I thought if I kept doing that, I’m going to hit somebody because I had no clue where the ball was going,” Snell said.
It remains unclear whether that toe issue affected the rough inning, but the loss nonetheless rests on the offense for not producing runs on a road trip that has been challenging for the Dodgers.
