The Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 9-7 comeback victory to complete a three-game sweep over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as Corey Seager launched an eighth-inning grand slam into the right field bleachers.
The Reds jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning and tacked on a fourth run in the third inning off Dodgers left-handed starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Three home runs did the damage, as Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler and Joey Votto all took Ryu deep. His day came to an end at just four innings, making it the fourth start this season in which Ryu has failed to reach the fifth inning.
“We need him to come out there and throw the baseball like he can,” Roberts said of Ryu. “For us to see the 92s and 93s (mph), and it’s not always about the gun, but I still believe there was more in there with the fastball than he had.”
Roberts doesn’t believe the dip in velocity is due to any sort of injury, but couldn’t firmly rule out the possibility. “I haven’t heard anything from the medical staff,” he said.
Despite the subpar outing, Roberts said Ryu will get another turn in the rotation. That coincides with Roberts’ previous remarks that Kenta Maeda will remain in the bullpen for the time being.
In 11 games (10 starts) this season, Ryu is 2-6 with a 4.42 ERA, 5.15 FIP and 1.35 WHIP. However, he had been improved, up until Sunday, since pitching out of the bullpen at the end of May.
