The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their five-game winning streak come to an end in stunning fashion on Friday as Kenley Jansen blew a save in the ninth inning and it ultimately led to a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 11 innings.
Carson Kelly stood out as the lone source of offense for Arizona, first hitting a game-tying, two-run home run against Jansen in the ninth. Two frames later, he provided the dagger with a go-ahead solo shot off Julio Urias to give the Diamondbacks their first lead of the night.
Archie Bradley was tasked with preserving the one-run advantage in the bottom of the 11th. He walked Joc Pederson to begin the frame and then appeared to hit A.J. Pollock in the wrist — only for home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus to rule that the ball hit the knob of the bat, resulting in a foul out.
Pollock was understandably frustrated over the call and voiced his displeasure with De Jesus. Bradley, becoming perturbed himself, shooed the 31-year-old off the field in effort to get play to resume.
Bradley eventually recorded the final two outs and successfully notched his third save of the season in the process. He additionally had some words for the Dodgers dugout and it led to both benches clearing.
After the game, Bradley explained his frustrations with Pollock stemmed from slowing up the game, via FOX Sports Arizona:
“That was my whole thing, that’s where it all started. Like, you’re out. You’re sitting there arguing while I’m trying to pitch to the next batter in a save situation in the 11th inning at Dodger Stadium. Like, this is a hostile environment, I’m trying to win, and you’re still standing arguing after you’ve been called out twice. And it’s nothing personal with A.J. at all. I could’ve been anyone in the big leagues.”
As tempers began to cool, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was noticeably infuriated with Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray, who walked onto the field in his street clothes. Though, Roberts didn’t recognize Ray at the time.
The left-hander took a shot at Roberts after the game, deeming his anger being all for show, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com:
“I think maybe it’s a fake tough-guy thing that he puts on for his team. But whatever. I mean, we won the game.”
Monday’s postgame skirmish was the latest chapter in what has been a fiery rivalry between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks over the years. The tension between the two teams even surfaced during a 2015 Spring Training game that saw four ejections.
