There was a reason the Los Angeles Dodgers did not retain the World Series champion. Pitcher Walker Buehler (31), who transferred to the Boston Red Sox, has been struggling with 8 earned runs.

Buehler started the away game against the Seattle Mariners in the 2025 Major League at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, on the 18th (Korea time), allowing 8 earned runs in 3⅓ innings with 8 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Boston also lost 0-8, ending their 6-game winning streak.

He overcame a crisis with 2 outs and runners on first and second in the first inning but allowed a big inning with 5 earned runs in the second. After 1 out with runners on first and second, he allowed a 1-RBI double to Cole Young hitting a line drive into the right-center field fence, giving up the first run. Buehler then issued walks to J.P. Crawford and Julio Rodríguez after full counts. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, he gave up a grand slam to Cal Raleigh. His first pitch, a 90.9 mph (146.3 km/h) changeup, came in high and outside, resulting in extra bases.

He went through the third inning without allowing any runs but could not endure the fourth. From the start of the inning, he gave up consecutive hits and allowed a 2-RBI double to Raleigh down the right field line before being pulled from the game. Of the 8 hits allowed, 4 were extra-base hits (1 home run and 2 doubles).

With a total of 93 pitches, he varied his mix with 7 types of pitches, including cutters (23), sliders (20), four-seam fastballs, and sinkers (16 each), as well as sweepers (8), knuckle curves, and changeups (5 each), but they were ineffective. His four-seam fastball reached a maximum speed of 96.6 mph (155.5 km/h), with an average of 95.2 mph (153.2 km/h), but his control was poor.

As of that day, Buehler has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses with an earned run average of 5.95 and 53 strikeouts over 12 games (59 innings) this season. His earned run average, nearing 6, surpasses last year's 5.38, marking a career worst. The first 6 games of the season were decent at 4 wins and 1 loss with an earned run average of 4.28, but he was placed on the injured list due to shoulder bursitis. After returning on the 21st of last month, his performance has significantly declined to 1 win and 4 losses with an earned run average of 8.17 over 6 games.

According to 'MLB.com', after the game, Buehler said, "It's really terrible to ruin the game at the point where the team started playing really good baseball. I came here to get good results, but it's hard and embarrassing to show such performances as I get older," and he took responsibility, saying, "I have thrown strikes my whole career, and giving up so many walks and 8 earned runs like today is not what I want."

Boston manager Alex Cora noted, "We had the advantage in counts but did not finish properly. We need to analyze what went wrong and find answers," urging Buehler to make an improvement.

Buehler, who excelled as the Dodgers' ace and experienced World Series victories twice as a 'big game pitcher', had a setback after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery on his elbow in August 2022 and missing the entire 2023 season. He returned last year but struggled with a record of 1 win and 6 losses and an earned run average of 5.38 over 16 games (75⅓ innings). However, he shined in the last 3 games of the postseason with 10 scoreless innings, especially volunteering to close the final Game 5 of the World Series, preserving a one-run lead and celebrating the championship moment.

Despite sharing thrilling moments, the Dodgers were composed. They were lukewarm toward Buehler, who became a free agent after the season. Despite his performance in the playoffs, they viewed Buehler's chances of rebounding as low. Buehler signed a one-year deal worth $21.05 million with Boston, aiming for a resurgence, but so far, it seems the Dodgers made the right choice.

Buehler expressed frustration, stating, "My physical condition is still good. Mentally, I'm better than last year. Last year, it was tough just to stand on the mound. I’m really happy to be here this year, and I want to do well to help the team, but it’s painful that I can’t," and he resolved to "start from scratch."

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