The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered their largest shutout loss in six decades when they were defeated by the Chicago Cubs, 16-0, which snapped a seven-game winning streak at home.
Roki Sasaki turned in a solid outing before Ben Casparius and Luis García combined to allow 10 runs that put the game out of reach. The lopsided score set the stage for Miguel Rojas to make his fifth career appearance as a pitcher.
The 36-year-old gave up five runs on seven hits in two innings of work. However, it was his impersonations of Sasaki, Clayton Kershaw, Landon Knack and Yoshinobu Yamamoto that got most of the attention from those watching Rojas pitch at Dodger Stadium.
“I feel ever since last year when I got the opportunity to pitch, I was trying to imitate my teammates that I play behind a lot,” Rojas explained.
“I was just trying to have fun. On a night like this when we couldn’t get it going at the plate, obviously the game was close until the fifth, Roki had a good outing, gave us an opportunity to be in the game, but it’s part of the game.
“We’re going to lose some like this and we’re going to win some the same way. I just feel at that point, try to have a little fun even though the game was out of hand.”
Knack appeared convinced from the dugout and Sasaki said he felt Rojas’ impersonation of him was spot on.
“Let me tell you something, Roki’s is really comfortable to pitch like that. I don’t know how he can bring the leg up like that,” Rojas began.
“I think it was a bad decision. I should’ve stayed with Yamamoto and Landon Knack combo. I think next time that I get an opportunity to pitch, I’m going to stick with that.
“Yamamoto, they couldn’t figure him out yesterday. I should’ve done more Yamamoto, less Roki. It’s a learning experience. Hopefully for the next time I can pitch just one inning. I think that’s the key. One inning and done.”
Rojas used Yamamoto’s glove on the mound, which is something he had wanted to do since pitching last year. “I got a couple innings last year too but I could never find Yoshi at the time to get his glove,” Rojas said.
“That was one of the parts that I wanted to do, because I know how big it is in Japan. To create some news over there, I think is fun.”
Dave Roberts praises Miguel Rojas
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes Rojas not only brought some enjoyment to the game, but helped preserve the bullpen as well.
“I guess a little bit of levity in a game like that certainly is helpful,” Roberts said. “I think he does a good job, so it shows he watches the games. To be able to throw two innings was huge for us. We needed every bit of that.”
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