The Los Angeles Dodgers squandered a lead against the L.A. Angels in the opener of the Freeway Series and fell to 1-12 in extra innings this season. They have now lost 11 extra-inning games in a row and are 13-20 in games decided by one run.
David Price surrendered two solo home runs, which allowed the Angels to pull even, and Garrett Cleavinger failed to keep the game tied in the 10th inning. “There’s no explanation,” manager Dave Roberts reiterated of the Dodgers’ record in extra innings.
While that has drawn plenty of attention, Roberts highlighted the Dodgers’ shortcomings with men on base and runners in scoring position. They went 2-for-12 in RISP situations and stranded 11 overall in the 4-3 loss.
“I think people are quick to look at how the game finished, but if you look at that game, we had scoring opportunities and situational opportunities that we came up short,” Roberts noted. “When you can tack a run here or there, it changes the complexion of the game.
“For me, that’s the story. I thought David pitched really well and guys in the ‘pen came in and did their jobs. You’re not always going to slug, so at times you’ve got to manufacture runs.”
The Dodgers are batting .264 (ninth-best in Majors) and have a .346 wOBA (fourth) and 119 wRC+ (fifth) with runners in scoring position this season.
Dodgers nearing MLB extra-innings record set by Expos
The Dodgers are one more loss in extra innings from tying an MLB record held by the 1969 Montreal Expos for most consecutive defeats in such games (12). That Expos team lost 110 games overall.
“I don’t have the answer for that,” David Price said of the Dodgers’ woes in extras. “That is kind of weird, especially since we’re 20-plus games over .500. We know that we’re a very good team. We just need to play better in extra-inning games.”
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