LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed loads of acquainted traits whereas opening their title protection on Tuesday, and it was not essentially an excellent factor.
The Dodgers will head into Sport 2 of their Nationwide League wild-card collection towards the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday with an opportunity to advance to the divisional spherical whereas surrounded by blended messages.
The offense that got here alive in September was in peak type throughout a 10-5 victory in Sport 1 towards the Reds as Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez every hit two residence runs. Los Angeles socked 5 lengthy balls in whole to match the franchise’s postseason document.
And but groans of frustration could possibly be heard as a ragged Los Angeles bullpen continued to battle. Three relievers pitched the eighth inning, permitting three runs and issuing 4 walks, two with the bases loaded. The trio mixed to throw 59 pitches simply to get three outs.
The Dodgers’ aid corps completed eleventh out of the 15 NL groups with a 4.27 ERA, and it solely acquired worse as October drew close to.
“These (relievers) have been on their heels with the lead they’d, and whenever you begin being too superb and getting behind, you begin giving them free bases,” Los Angeles supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “That is how (an opponent) can construct innings and get momentum.”
The Reds trailed 8-0 earlier than scoring a mixed 5 runs within the seventh and eighth innings to at the very least be ok with their prospects in Sport 2.
“It is a large deficit,” Cincinnati supervisor Terry Francona mentioned. “That is rather a lot to ask, however they stored taking part in, and that is what you are imagined to do.”
The Dodgers’ prime starter will take the mound for Sport 2. Proper-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto completed 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA in 30 regular-season begins, and he got here inside one out of throwing a no-hitter on Sept. 6 at Baltimore.
Yamamoto was one in every of simply three wholesome starters for Los Angeles in final season’s playoffs, and he stepped up by going 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 4 begins. He gave up one run over 6 1/3 innings in a Sport 2 World Sequence win over the New York Yankees.
“Having the final yr’s postseason underneath my belt, I believe I am calmer this yr and had good preparation going into the postseason this yr,” Yamamoto mentioned via an interpreter. “I really feel extra assured.”
In a July 28 begin at Cincinnati, Yamamoto gave up one run on 4 hits over seven innings whereas incomes a 5-2 win. He struck out 9 and walked two. For his profession, he’s 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two begins towards the Reds.
Cincinnati will counter with right-hander Zack Littell, who went 10-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 mixed begins with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Reds this yr. Littell was acquired on the commerce deadline, and he compiled a 2-0 document with a 4.39 ERA in 10 begins for Cincinnati.
“Clearly this can be a second that you just dream of as a child simply to get to a playoff baseball recreation,” mentioned Littell, who has made 5 profession playoff appearances, all in aid. “To return over right here, assist these guys, make this push and get right here, hopefully proceed to assist them shifting ahead, it has been superior.”
Littell is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 profession regular-season appearances towards the Dodgers, however all of them have been in aid. He confronted them 11 instances in 2021 with the San Francisco Giants and had a 1.54 ERA, then gave up three runs in two playoff outings (2 2/3 innings) vs. Los Angeles that yr.
With their large lead in Sport 1, the Dodgers made a pair of precautionary strikes, taking out left fielder Enrique Hernandez (again) and second baseman Tommy Edman (ankle), however each are anticipated to play in Sport 2.
–Doug Padilla, Subject Stage Media
