The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up their first win in three tries this season against a left-handed starting pitcher. Their victory on Sunday also prevented the Colorado Rockies from completing a three-game sweep at Coors Field.
With a left-hander on the mound, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to the expected lineup that had Logan Forsythe batting leadoff. The newcomer returned after not starting on Saturday. It was the first time Forsythe sat to that point in the season.
He opened the game with a double, which was cashed in two batters later by Justin Turner on a two-run double. Forsythe entered the series finale mired in a 0-for-13 skid.
The 30-year-old reviewed video of himself but primarily focused on getting back to feeling in rhythm, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“It’s definitely more of a feel thing,” he said. “Mechanically, nothing too much different, I just had to try that feel again. I looked at old video and made comparisons, and felt better today.”
Forsythe finished the game 3-for-5 with the aforementioned extra-base hit, two runs scored, one RBI and one walk. He was robbed of a fourth hit by Trevor Story’s diving stop to end the ninth inning.
That Forsythe reached in each of his three plate appearances against left-hander Tyler Anderson was an added bonus for the Dodgers. He was acquired not only to fill the void at second base but also help the team improve against southpaws.
The Dodgers face another lefty in Chicago Cubs ace Jon Lester on Monday, and draw former teammate Brett Anderson in finale of the three-game series at Wrigley Field. At the outset of their road trip, which had four left-handers aligned to face his club, Roberts called it an opportunity to dispel the narrative that’s hovered since last season.
