Leading 3-1 with two outs and runners on second and third base in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s series finale, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to intentionally walk Paul Goldschmidt to load the bases for left-handed batter Jake Lamb.
Roberts then called on left-handed reliever Grant Dayton to face Lamb, but Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale countered the move by sending pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks Jr. to the plate. Hale’s decision was a mild surprise.
Lamb leads the Diamondbacks with 85 RBI, is tied for the lead with 27 home runs, and ranks third on the team with an .859 on-base plus slugging percentage.
However, the third-year player is only batting .157/.269/.326 off southpaws in 104 plate appearances this season. Weeks Jr. got ahead in the count, which forced Dayton to zero in on the strike zone.
“We went 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, and I was just like, ‘I got to throw strikes,'” the rookie reliever said after the game. “And that’s what I was trying to do. I trusted my curveball and fastball and tried to get them over the plate to make something happen.”
Dayton wound up striking out Weeks Jr. on a full count, which elicited quire the reaction from Dayton, Carlos Ruiz and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The trio pumped their fists, while those lined along the dugout railing also reacted with plenty of excitement.
Facing Weeks Jr. as opposed to Lamb didn’t do much to disrupt Dayton’s rhythm or thinking. “My approach really is just simplified to, is he left-handed or right-handed? After that, I’m really just trying to throw strikes and trust the catcher,” Dayton explained.
“Chooch was calling what I was thinking he was going to call, so we were on the same page.” That was the first time Ruiz caught Dayton, though the rookie reliever said the two held conversations after Ruiz joined the team.
Dayton lauded the veteran catcher for seeking out each pitcher on the staff to foster a relationship and establish familiarity. “That’s special,” he said.
The win was the Dodgers’ fifth straight, with the last four games started, and won, by rookies. Although not a starter, Dayton is among the several rookies who have contributed this season. “The (pennant) race is fun,” he said.
“Me personally, I’m trying to come into the clubhouse and take every day as the same, learn from the older guys how to be a pro, and not get caught up in what other teams are doing. We want to win every game. I think that’s all it really comes down to.”
Since being called up at the end of July, Dayton has been one of Roberts’ best relievers. In 16 appearances (19.2 innings) he has a 1.83 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and has struck out 26 while only walking six.
