In what was perhaps their biggest game of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers laid an egg against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night, falling 7-2 to drop back into second place in the National League West.
A key play in the game came in the fifth inning when the Dodgers were trailing 3-2. Relief pitcher Scott Alexander worked himself into a bit of trouble by giving up two singles. A.J. Pollock stepped to the plate with two outs, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to stick with Alexander.
He has typically been used as a lefty specialist the last month or so, but with starter Ross Stripling only going 1.2 innings on Wednesday, Roberts kept Alexander in the game to try and get through the inning.
The move ended up backfiring as Alexander threw Pollock a fastball right down the middle and he launched to straightaway center field for a three-run home run, essentially putting the game out of reach for a struggling Dodgers offense.
After the game, Roberts explained why he decided to stick with Alexander in that spot instead of going to a right-hander to face Pollock as he did the night before, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“This year Pollock has had a lot more success against right-handed pitchers than left-handers. Scott this year, he’s been in those situations. He has the ability to put the ball on the ground. It just didn’t work out.
“I liked Scott right there. I really did. Got a couple punchouts then it ultimately landed on that matchup with Pollock.”
The 2018 season has been an up-and-down one for Alexander as at times he has looked like the most dominant groundball pitcher in the league, but at others, has struggled greatly.
Overall in 71 games, Alexander has pitched to a 3.68 ERA, 3.52 FIP and 1.24 WHIP with 56 strikeouts and 26 walks in 66 innings.
Despite the rough outing on Wednesday night, the Dodgers will need Alexander to get right over the weekend if they want to return to the postseason and have success in the postseason as he has been an essential part of the bullpen all season long.
