The Los Angeles Dodgers finished 4-2 on their homestand, but trudged their way through the series against the Colorado Rockies and dropped two of three. The Dodgers’ offensive woes were punctuated a 1-0 loss Wednesday night, the rubber match of the three-game set.
Kenta Maeda turned in a strong start, going 6.2 innings and allowing just one run on five hits. After setting a season high with eight strikeouts against Colorado on April 23, Maeda tallied nine strikeouts in his second look at the club.
He nonetheless suffered a tough-luck loss in a game that featured some oddities. Maeda reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the fifth inning despite two Rockies players were covering first base.
DJ LeMahieu fielded the throw from Nolan Arenado, but wasn’t standing on the bag and didn’t flip the ball to Daniel Descalso in time for the out. The play allowed the Dodgers to load the bases with one out, though Chris Rusin worked out of the jam.
Because that wasn’t enough, Adam Liberatore suffered some embarrassment in the seventh inning when he thought Dodgers manager Dave Roberts signaled for him to come out of the bullpen, when in actuality Roberts asked for Maeda’s interpreter to join him on the mound visit:
Maeda’s first pitch after the incident was knocked into center field by Descalso for an RBI single that proved to be the difference. Liberatore then entered the game and retired the lone batter he faced on the night.
Liberatore said after the loss he thought a call to the bullpen was for him to replace Maeda.
