LOS ANGELES — After popping out largely flat for eight innings on Tuesday, the Dodgers lastly began to resemble the workforce they’ve been all season lengthy within the ninth.
Down three runs towards the most effective closers within the sport, Will Smith, Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández all singled, sending the packed home at Dodger Stadium into the frenzy that they had waited practically three hours for.
For many of that body, it appeared as if the Dodgers had been destined to finish their second consecutive walk-off win. As a substitute, catastrophe struck.
With two on, no one out and Shohei Ohtani looming on deck, Miguel Rojas grounded right into a game-ending triple play to ship the Dodgers to a devastating 4-2 loss to the Padres.
With the loss, L.A.’s lead atop the NL West is down to 2 video games, the closest the race has been since April 24.
“Yeah, positively a troublesome one for myself,” Rojas stated. “I’m completely assured that I can get to a fastball. Sadly, I hit it on the bottom and it’s been powerful for me the final couple of days. I haven’t been capable of get the job executed, however positively this one, particularly for me, I feel I let the workforce down on that one.”
As Rojas stepped as much as the plate towards Padres nearer Robert Suarez, Ohtani rapidly ran as much as the on-deck circle. Just a few steps behind him was Mookie Betts, who might virtually style a chance at redemption for his second-inning strikeout with the bases loaded. Neither Ohtani or Betts received that chance.
Rojas stated he had a bunt signal on the primary pitch of the at-bat. However after falling behind 0-1, the Dodgers, virtually shockingly, determined to let Rojas hit. Each Rojas and supervisor Dave Roberts reiterated that the choice got here due to the best way the Padres had been arrange defensively. L.A. believed that if Rojas received a bunt down, San Diego was going to attempt to execute a wheel play to get the lead runner out at third, which is what they had been exhibiting on the missed bunt try on the primary pitch.
When requested if the membership thought of letting Rojas bunt whatever the defensive alignment with a view to deliver up Ohtani and, maybe, for Betts to get an opportunity, Roberts stated the workforce felt assured with the choice.
“I simply don’t assume that you just’re anticipating a triple play,” stated Roberts. “He hit the ball onerous. And I simply can’t play the sport of, if it will get by means of then it’s an ideal play, after which if it’s hit proper at him, it’s a foul play. The sport tells you what to do. And in that state of affairs, everyone seems to be taking part in in, the shortstop is within the six-hole. There’s simply a number of holes on the market. That’s simply form of the best way you play baseball.”
“There’s lower than a 1 % probability that Shohei doesn’t come as much as bat,” Roberts added. “Sadly, that small share got here into play.”
With the NL West on the road, there was a special form of buzz at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. From the nationwide anthem to the primary pitch thrown by Landon Knack, there was an vitality the Dodgers haven’t skilled for a regular-season recreation in fairly a while.
In a number of methods, the three-game collection towards the Padres this week serves as a begin for the postseason for the Dodgers. These are the kinds of video games they are going to play the remainder of the best way.
On condition that, the Dodgers have areas to enhance. They went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring place and squandered two golden alternatives within the first couple of innings towards right-hander Michael King.
The identical buzz and vitality will comply with the Dodgers on Wednesday as they give the impression of being to keep away from actual stress falling over them with one other loss. For now, they continue to be in a positive place, however that might change rapidly — particularly for the reason that Padres have already gained the season collection and maintain the tiebreaker, ought to the groups finish the season with similar information.
As this matchup continues, the Dodgers shall be trying to keep away from experiencing the form of shock that was despatched round Dodger Stadium in one of many wildest finishes you’ll ever see.
“I’ve by no means been part of one thing like that,” Rojas stated. “I let the workforce down at the moment. Simply come again tomorrow and attempt to get it executed.”
