The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Texas Rangers for the second consecutive night, failing to score more than three runs following their offensive explosion from Tuesday.
Encapsulating the drop-off in scoring was the bottom of the eighth innings from Wednesday and Thursday. Rangers reliever David Robertson entered each game in a massive spot, tasked with retiring the Dodgers’ big three of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
In his career, Freeman has fared quite well against Robertson, something the veteran right-hander noted following the game, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Before this series, the only time I got him out was in spring training as a Brave,” Robertson said of Freeman, in particular. He was 4 for 4 in his career against Robertson before this week. Betts was 4 for 10.
“When they got me up (Wednesday), I told (Rangers closer Kirby Yates). I don’t think somebody has looked at the numbers.”
Robertson sat down Betts, Ohtani and Freeman in order in the middle game, capping off striking out the side with a nine-pitch punch out of the Dodgers’ first baseman. With that, he became the first pitcher to strike out Betts, Ohtani and Freeman in order.
In the series finale, he did it again, executing the same game plan after getting himself into some immediate trouble:
“Well, I put myself in a pretty good pickle there right out of the gate,” Robertson said. “Hit Biggio, which was very frustrating for me to start the inning, especially since I was ahead in the count. Was ahead in count on Barnes too and just left a cookie curveball right in the middle of the zone.
“It sucks when you do that and knowing who’s coming up behind them. I had to dig deep, make some pitches.”
Both instances of letdown from Betts, Ohtani and Freeman came at key points in both games, halting any form of a comeback run. Their inability to get to Robertson was more about the right-hander’s ability to locate and sequence his stuff:
“There’s really nothing surprising as the data lays him out. He’s just been able to execute the pitches and get outs,” Ohtani explained.
“He’s been able to execute side to side. Some pitches were pretty close. Some pitches not exactly a strike. But overall, he’s been able to execute pretty well.”
Betts and Ohtani were taken care of in quick order, and without much of a lengthy fight. Whereas Freeman made Robertson work a bit in their first matchup on Wednesday.
There was no silver lining to the Dodgers’ offense from this series, aside from an offensive outburst in the opener, led by a barrage of home runs off two Rangers arms.
Looking ahead to Dodgers matchup with Royals
The Dodgers face a difficult matchup in Friday’s game, squaring off against young left-hander Cole Ragans of the Kansas City Royals.
His hard-throwing stuff has been overwhelming for hitters at times, and the Royals have one of the brightest young stars in Bobby Witt Jr. at shortstop. The Dodgers can make a quick statement in the opener, capitalizing on their ability to smash left-handed pitching this season.
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