The Los Angeles Dodgers fell in extra-innings on Tuesday, in part due to a key error giving the San Diego Padres the lead on a play that should have ended a critical inning.
Earlier this month, the Dodgers were able to overcome defensive miscues against the Miami Marlins, but it cost them games against the New York Mets.
On Tuesday, some of those same problems wound up being a deciding factor in a loss to another potential playoff team. Manager Dave Roberts noted the Dodgers again didn’t do themselves any favors in the 4-3 loss to the Padres, as seen on SportsNetLA:
“We didn’t play a clean game. When you’re going to play tight ballgames, every play that’s not made, there’s an affect. I just think we didn’t play our best baseball. We had opportunities offensively. I thought Tyler threw the heck out of the baseball. Like I said, we had opportunities to win tonight, and offensively and defensively, we just couldn’t get it done and got beat.”
A bevy of mistakes won’t show up in the box score on Tuesday, just one from Justin Turner on a much-needed slow roller in the eighth that would’ve ended the inning, but instead allowed a run to score with two outs when he couldn’t cleanly field the ball.
Also in the ninth inning, Chris Taylor had a fly ball hit off his glove and result in a leadoff double.
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, Roberts isn’t overly concerned with the recent string of sloppy defense:
“No, no. Not at all. I guess I’d rather have it happen now than later. For me, the way that we prepare, the way we play, the intent, it’s all where it needs to be.”
Roberts previously was vocal regarding the lapses in defense over the past week, mainly because his clubs have been sure-handed in the field in recent years.
One of his hopes was that these issues weren’t indicative of the Dodgers losing focus, but rather just a blip.
Although the misplays hurt the Dodgers in the series opener, so too did going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position and leaving 14 on base.
Dave Roberts sticking by World Series guarantee for Dodgers
With less than two weeks before the 2022 MLB postseason begins, Roberts and the Dodgers have positioned themselves with the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs. Their magic number for homefield through the World Series is four.
Despite injury challenges, Roberts reaffirmed his guarantee this week that the Dodgers would win the World Series.
When making the bold prediction during Spring Training, Roberts added the caveat of so long as the starting pitching staff stays healthy. “I’m not voiding it,” he said this week.
“I still believe that regardless of what’s transpired this year with our pitching, we have enough talent to prevent runs. I think it’s 11 games in October that we’ve got to win. I still stand by that. Thank you for asking.”
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