The Los Angeles Dodgers utilized a bullpen game in their 15-2 blowout win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, with Jack Dreyer serving as the opener and Matt Sauer filling a bulk role.
After Dreyer got through the first and second, Sauer followed with five innings to help take the burden off a taxed Dodgers bullpen. The right-hander allowed just one run on five hits and collected four strikeouts en route to his first Major League win.
“I can’t say enough about his performance. Got his first Major League win, which was great. And to chew up five innings was big, efficient,” manager Dave Roberts said of Sauer after the game.
“We needed every bit of it considering where our ‘pen is at, the leverage guys, and with another game to play, then going into 10 in a row. So what Matt did today picked us up big time.”
Roberts had previously mentioned bullpen usage as his biggest concern with the pitching staff so far this season.
Sauer was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the game and knew he had to provide some length in his outing. “I mean, even when we’re down in OKC, you still follow the big league club,” Sauer said.
“I knew that the bullpen has been used a lot, and so coming in today, I just had a goal of at least five innings, help the boys down in the ‘pen a little bit. So I’m just happy I was able to do that.”
In addition to Roberts, Sauer successfully filling a bulk role wasn’t lost on his teammates.
“Everyone was really happy about it. The bullpen especially came up to me, all of them congratulated me. So it was just awesome to do,” he added.
Matt Sauer’s plan for game ball
Sauer revealed that he was given the game ball and scorecard to commemorate his first Major League win.
“I’ll probably give it to my parents, honestly,” he said.
“The scorecard they gave me, it’ll go straight to my parents. My parents hold on to all that stuff for me. They’re kind of the ones that have been there the whole time for me, through all this. So anything I get in this game, I try to give back to them.”
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