The Los Angeles Dodgers may dropped the Freeway Series against the L.A. Angels this past weekend, with their lone win on Saturday coming in the form of a 14-11 offensive barrage.
The 14 runs marked the Dodgers’ second-highest run total of the season, which was even more impressive considering they were held without a hit through the first three innings of play.
L.A. ultimately broke the game wide open by scoring a combined 13 runs in the next two frames. That was all the run support Clayton Kershaw needed, who tossed five scoreless innings on only 71 pitches en route to his fifth win of the year.
An interesting moment happened in Kershaw’s final inning on the mound, as Angels outfielder Taylor Ward laid down a bunt with one out and a runner on first. He attempted to beat the shift, but Max Muncy fielded the ball and threw out Jared Walsh trying to advance to second base.
The bunt attempt drew the ire of Kershaw and other members of the Dodgers, but Ward revealed later on that isn’t a concern of his, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:
“In the moment, I had no idea how upset [Kershaw] was. I was more upset at myself for not executing what I wanted to do, what i visualized happening. I loved how we came back. It just shows that you’re never out of any game. I liked that the boys pushed and we came close. I could honestly care less about what the other side thinks. I went into Joe [Maddon’s] office the following day, I talked to him. He liked the idea, but it just wasn’t the right time for it. I learned from that. Take it into my experiences and move on.”
Bunting in blowouts typically goes against baseball’s unwritten rules, but the outcome was favorable for the Dodgers. After Ward advanced to first, Kershaw induced a pop fly to get out of the inning.
Despite at one point trailing by 13, the Angels would make things interesting by scoring 11 runs in the sixth and seventh innings. It wasn’t enough to complete the comeback, as the Dodgers went on to snap a four-game losing streak, only to drop the Freeway Series finale the following day.
Roberts: Ward bunt attempt ‘not a good baseball play’
In addition to Kershaw, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was not pleased with Ward’s bunt attempt. “It’s just not a good baseball play. Anyway you slice it, not a good baseball play,” Roberts said after the game.
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