For the second straight night, Ryan Madson was unable to deliver when tasked with getting out of a big jam for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox.
With the Dodgers leading 2-1, Hyun-Jin Ryu got two quick outs in the fifth inning before giving up two singles and a walk to load the bases. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to go to Madson to face Steve Pearce.
The veteran right-hander has come up big for Los Angeles all postseason long before the World Series. Madson did not look sharp though, walking Pearce to bring in a run and tie the game and then giving up a two-run single to J.D. Martinez that allowed the Red Sox to take a 4-2 lead, which stood until the end of the game as Boston took a 2-0 series lead.
The 38-year-old has appeared in nine of the Dodgers’ 13 postseason games so far, but Roberts does not feel that he has been overused and didn’t believe that caused his struggles.
“Madson has been our guy for quite some time, and he’s pitched out of big spots there. The usage right there, I’m not worried about that,” Roberts explained. “He’s fresh. He pitched yesterday, didn’t throw too many pitches. Had a couple of days off coming into the series, has an off-day tomorrow.
“So that part of it was pretty easy. And I just felt I really liked him against Pearce. In that spot he’s done it time and time again for us, but the last couple of nights it hasn’t worked out. The walk, very uncharacteristic, and he gave a flare single to Martinez.”
Madson has inherited five runners in the first two games of the World Series and allowed all five of them to score, which has been a big difference in both games.
With other relievers like Pedro Baez and Julio Urias throwing the ball well, Roberts may opt to go to them instead of Madson in key situations moving forward.
Madson isn’t the only issue though as the Dodgers’ offense has continued to struggle as they have for much of the postseason, so something will need to change at Dodger Stadium if they want to get back in the series.
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