After dropping three of four to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Freeway Series, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts voiced frustration over his club’s inability to sustain any traction.
Little has changed in the two games that followed, with the San Diego Padres getting back-to-back walk-off wins. The Dodgers were dealt a shock on Friday night when the seemingly perfect Kenley Jansen gave up a walk-off home run to Melvin Upton Jr. in the ninth inning.
Upton Jr.’s home run came one inning after Justin Turner’s two-run homer gave the Dodgers a lead. Then on Saturday, the Dodgers again were unable to protect a late lead and played into extra innings against their National League West counterpart.
Chin-Hui Tsao took over in the 11th inning and promptly allowed a leadoff single to Wil Myers. Tsao then proceeded to retire the next two batters, including Upton Jr. on a long fly ball to the left field fence that was a mere inches from going out.
However, the right-hander then walked the next three batters, with the game ending on a walk-off walk. The Dodgers’ rookie manager couldn’t find the words to describe yet another deflating loss, via Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:
“We’re finding different ways to lose games. I haven’t seen this one,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s a tough one. To try and defend it or find an answer, I’m having a hard time.”
The Dodgers enter Sunday’s three-game series finale with a 21-23 record and losers in six of their last 10 games. They are in third place in the division and 4.5 games back of the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants.
While Los Angeles has hovered around .500 for much of May, up until recently they’d benefitted from a weak division. San Francisco has created some early separation by going 9-1 in their last 10 games. The Colorado Rockies, who are in second place with a 21-21 record, are 6-4 over that same stretch.
The Padres are in position to complete a three-game sweep of the Dodgers for a second consecutive series. Whereas they were turned away by Clayton Kershaw the first time around, San Diego faces Kenta Maeda on Sunday afternoon.
