The Los Angeles Dodgers went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position en route to a 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night and appeared primed to break the seal on a Miguel Rojas line drive in the eighth inning.
After a pair of two-out walks by rookies Miguel Vargas and James Outman, Rojas hit a scorcher that had a .630 expected batting average. But just as his liner seemed destined for the left-center field gap to bring in at least the tying run, Nick Ahmed stepped to his left to snag it for the third out.
Dodger Stadium let out a collective groan and Rojas went into a crouch just up the first-base line.
Following the Dodgers loss, Rojas explained his belief the pitch clock impacted the high-leverage situation, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic
Miguel Rojas: "The pitch clock is hard, especially these games (like) that situation in the eighth inning, I feel like I need a little bit more of time there to be honest with you. It's gonna be an adjustment for everybody." (cont.)
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 1, 2023
Rojas on the pitch clock cont: "Games are gonna start to get a little bit more intense and you're gonna get situations where you're probably going to need a little bit more time, but it is what it is…It's (for) routines we have. Breathing, keeping yourself collected."
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 1, 2023
While Rojas was in a key at-bat, it only lasted two pitches. Scott McGough’s first offering was a splitter just outside the strike zone.
MLB’s pitch timer rules nevertheless requires a hitter to be in the batter’s box and alert to the pitcher by eight seconds remaining. Even with Spring Training serving as a learning period, several players have still remarked there remains an adjusting process to the new rules.
Will Smith said this week he believes that could span multiple months.
Dave Roberts trusts Miguel Rojas
Although the Diamondbacks turned to a right-handed relief pitcher to face Rojas, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not give consideration to pinch-hitting with Jason Heyward.
“For me, it was a no-brainer,” Roberts said. “[McGouh is] a guy that his best out pitch is a split, which gets the lefties out. He throws a fastball, and Miguel is one of our best fastball hitters. And the slider is his third-best pitch. For me, it’s not just a righty-left thing.”
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