On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 3-7 to the New York Mets in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
With a lack of starting pitchers, manager Dave Roberts opted for a bullpen game, utilizing five pitchers throughout the match. However, the six runs surrendered by the second inning created a significant deficit, causing the Dodgers to miss their opportunity for a home win and leaving their overall record at 1-1.
Before the game, the Dodgers had set a postseason record by going 33 consecutive innings without allowing a run. Unfortunately, that streak came to an end when starter Ryan Brasier gave up a leadoff home run to Francisco Lindor. In the second inning, reliever Landon Knack allowed a grand slam to Vientos, leading to five runs in that inning alone. The Dodgers were forced to play from behind for the remainder of the game.
The outcome may have been close, but it generated significant discussion in the media. FANSIDED criticized Roberts’s tactics with a bold headline: “Forewarning the Destruction of the Los Angeles Dodgers.” They ridiculed the team’s inability to extend their scoreless streak, stating, “Not even an extra third of an inning was achieved,” and suggested that “Lindor’s home run turned Dave Roberts into a coward.”
A key moment occurred in the second inning with two outs and runners on second and third, while the Dodgers trailed 0-2. Facing Lindor, who had already hit a solo home run, Roberts chose to walk him, filling the bases intentionally.
The next batter, Mark Vientos, worked the count full and ultimately hit a grand slam on the ninth pitch. The outlet questioned Roberts’s decision: “Why avoid facing Lindor, who has a batting average of just over .250 when Vientos had already hit two home runs and boasted a .563 average in the division series against Philadelphia?” They criticized the choice to walk Lindor, resulting in a much larger setback intentionally.
Of course, no one can predict what might have happened had Roberts chosen to pitch to Lindor. The outlet concluded its critique by stating, “Vientos ruined the day for the 45,000 fans in Dodger blue.”
Every game is crucial in a short series. Despite the tough loss, the Dodgers have a solid chance to bounce back, now standing at 1-1. Games 3 through 5 are scheduled to take place at Citi Field in New York, starting on October 17 and continuing through the 19th.
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