Bobby Miller suffered a similar fate as Clayton Kershaw, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are on the brink of elimination after losing 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.
Whereas the Diamondbacks took an aggressive approach against Kershaw, they were much more patient with Miller, but still struck first to take an early lead.
Corbin Carroll’s leadoff walk was followed by Ketel Marte reaching on a bunt single, and Miller then allowed a base hit to Tommy Pham. James Outman helped Miller’s cause with a leaping catch at the wall in center field, although the Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead on the sacrifice fly.
Another out was traded for a second run, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added onto Arizona’s lead with a single. Miller ran into more traffic in the second inning before being removed with two outs.
Kershaw and Miller combined to pitch two innings in their starts, with nine runs allowed on 10 hits and three walks while collecting just one strikeout. That amounts to a collective 40.50 ERA and about the worst possible scenario for the Dodgers given the uncertainty of their starting rotation as a whole.
Manager Dave Roberts, who said he would have a ‘Game 7’ approach, was rewarded for turning to high-leverage options out of the Dodgers bullpen so early in the game.
Brusdar Graterol provided two innings without allowing a hit, and Ryan Brasier retired the first six batters faced prior to giving up a solo home run to Gurriel.
That gave the Diamondbacks a homer in 15 consecutive postseason games, the second-longest streak in MLB history.
Dodgers squander opportunities
Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen held the Dodgers to just a Freddie Freeman infield single through three innings before allowing a two-out solo home run to J.D. Martinez in the fourth.
It was a bit of redemption for Martinez, as he struck out on three pitches to end the first inning when representing the tying run.
The Dodgers had another significant opportunity against Gallen in the bottom of the fifth when James Outman walked and Miguel Rojas followed with a single. However, the rally was cut off as Mookie Betts grounded into a force out on the first pitch and Freddie Freeman struck out looking.
Back-to-back singles from Max Muncy and Martinez chased Gallen with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and the Dodgers proceeded to load the bases. Kiké Hernández cut their deficit in half on an infield single, but L.A. left the bases loaded as Outman struck out and Kolten Wong grounded out.
The Dodgers went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. Those were areas Freeman highlighted as keys for the team in order to avoid a collapse reminiscent of the 2022 NLDS.
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