The Los Angeles Dodgers began a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on Thursday with potentially important playoff implications on the line.
The Dodgers, Brewers and Atlanta Braves entered the day all sitting within one game of each other for the top seed in the National League. The winners of the top two seeds will earn a bye in the Wild Card Series, while the third seed will host the sixth seed to open the postseason.
Given the stakes and the impact these games could have, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts managed this more like a playoff game than a regular season game, but it backfired late and cost them the win.
Brewers 5, Dodgers 4: key takeaways
Edwin Díaz blows another save, takes loss
The Dodgers went to Edwin Díaz with a two-run lead in the ninth inning, but he blew the save once again. It was his third blown save in four chances since coming off the injured list, as his struggles continue to mount.
Díaz struck out the first hitter he faced, but then allowed four consecutive singles that tied the game, 4-4. He struck out the next hitter, and then Alex Veisa entered the game.
Vesia failed to do his job as well, allowing a go-ahead RBI single to Jake Bauers, putting the Brewers up 5-4. That run was also credited to Diaz, who now has an 11.57 ERA in 12.1 innings this year.
In the inning prior, Roberts used Tanner Scott to face just one hitter, rather than letting him go back out for the ninth. It was a questionable decision to use their best reliever for just one out against a hitter who has not been good, especially given the bullpen’s struggles, and it came back to haunt them.
Max Muncy sets Dodgers record with clutch homer
The Dodgers’ offense managed to score just one run through the first six innings. That came when Miguel Rojas had a leadoff walk in the fifth inning, and then scored on a two-out single from Ben Rortvedt that made it a 2-1 game.
In the sixth, the offense rallied for the lead, started by a one-out walk from Tommy Edman. Freddie Freeman then took a walk, which included an important ABS challenge that had the called strike three overturned.
After Teoscar Hernández struck out, Max Muncy pinch-hit for Miguel Rojas. Muncy took the sixth pitch he saw, a 100 mph fastball, over the right-center field wall for the go-ahead three-run homer to put L.A. up 4-2.
In addition to giving the Dodgers the lead, it also made Muncy the all-time home run leader at Dodger Stadium. Muncy’s pinch-hit blast off Antonio Senzatela was his 131st career home run at Dodger Stadium, which broke a tie with Eric Karros for the most in the ballpark’s history.
The Dodgers were unable to put anything else together after that, but took their lead into the ninth.
Roki Sasaki battles to quality start
Roki Sasaki did not have his best stuff or command, but he showed significant growth by battling through it to turn in a quality start, rather than letting the adversity beat him.
Sasaki walked five hitters, the most free passes he’s given up since June 26, but still held the Brewers to just two runs on four hits over six innings, while adding two strikeouts.
Both runs came in a difficult fourth inning when it looked like Sasaki was completely melting down. He allowed a leadoff single, one-out walk, and another single that loaded the bases.
He struck out the next hitter, but then walked two straight as he could not find the zone with any of his pitches. That brought in both of the Brewers’ runs.
Despite the struggles, Sasaki bounced back to strike out Jackson Chourio and leave the bases loaded still. Considering Sasaki’s career thus far, it was one of the most impressive moments when he battled back and worked out of the jam without letting things spiral out of control.
He then came back to throw another two scoreless innings, finishing off his outing on a positive note.
If you love our reporting, choose DodgerBlue.com as a preferred source on Google.
