Dodgers Highlights: Dave Roberts Sickeningly Sticks with Caleb Ferguson to Lose Game to Reds on a Walk Off
The Dodgers battled through what was far from starter Tony Gonsolin’s best game of the season to eventually take an 8-3 lead over the Reds in the 4th inning. But the bullpen and shaky defense just could not keep Cincy from scoring runs and the game ended with Caleb Ferguson being unable to find the strike zone in the 9th to lose the game on a walk off. Dave Roberts has some explaining to do…
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Let’s get into the highlights of this one.
The game started off well enough for LA. After struggling to score against the Yankees over the weekend, the offense got going in a hurry in Cincinnati, putting together a 3 run first inning. Mookie Betts led off with a single and Freddie Freeman followed with a walk. After a Will Smith strikeout, Max Muncy cranked a much needed RBI double to bring home Betts and put the Dodgers up 1-0. J.D. Martinez followed with a sac fly to drive home Freeman and David Peralta singled to plate Muncy.
David Peralta Single pic.twitter.com/DoOPujKHru
— Mad Choriyama (@MadChoriyama) June 6, 2023
3-0 Dodgers.
Unfortunately, the Reds got it all back in the bottom of the first as Tony Gonsolin struggled with his command allowing three runs on three singles, a walk, and a hit by pitch. And that was the story of the night, the Reds just kept coming back.
3-3 score.
The game stayed there until things got fun in the 4th inning as the Dodgers put up a 5 spot with some big time big fly power. J.D. Martinez got things going, leading off the inning with his 15th home run of the season.
Stay hot, JD! pic.twitter.com/9ZUG0XD2Nl
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 7, 2023
2022 J.D. Martinez: 16 home runs in 596 plate appearances
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 7, 2023
2023 J.D. Martinez: 15 home runs in 192 plate appearances
The Dodgers rallied to load the bases with 2 out and up came Freddie Freeman to face the new pitcher Alex Young. The pitching change proved to be a bad move for Reds manager David Bell (who got ejected an inning later).
4 PIECE YEESH https://t.co/csNlD8fCC6
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) June 7, 2023
Freddie Freeman just took an 0-2 pitch and crushed it to right field for a grand slam.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) June 7, 2023
It's his second grand slam of the season and the Dodgers now lead 8-3.
It doesn't matter who you bring in to face Freddie, he's going to do something special.
6 years. $162 million. Special.
It was the 5th grand slam of his career. Moreover, the slam put Freddie in the NL lead for OPS over former teammate Ronald Acuna Jr.
8-3 Dodgers.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers never scored again as Cincy just keep pecking away.
The Reds got a run back in the bottom of the 5th thanks in part to a throwing error by Max Muncy, his 7th error of the season at third base. Tony Gonsolin was able to escape the inning and stay in line to earn his 4th win of the season. His night was done there.
8-4 Dodgers lead heading to the 6th.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Reds got another run back thanks in part to another Muncy error. It was a tough play coming on a laser throw from Jason Heyward in center field. A clean pick of the baseball probably nails the runner at third base for the final out.
Thankfully, Yency Almonte (who started the inning) was able to limit the damage to just one run and keep the Dodgers up 8-5 heading to the 7th. After a 7th inning at-bat, Max Muncy was removed from the game for unknown reasons.
The pesky Reds tacked on another run in the bottom of the 7th as they beat Brusdar Graterol with “paper cuts,” as broadcaster Joe Davis put it. 8-6 Dodgers lead heading to the 8th.
Evan Phillips righted the ship and held the Reds scoreless in the bottom of the 8th… but that was short lived.
Caleb Ferguson came on for the save in the 9th and just absolutely could not find the strike zone. He walked the lead off batter. It just kept staying bad.
- Single
- Pop out
- Walk
- Walk, run scored
- Hit by pitch, run scored
Dave Roberts kept Ferguson in the game through all that. With the bases loaded and one out, he finally came to take the ball from Ferguson and in came Shelby Miller but it was too little too late. With the bases loaded with 1 out and a tie game, Miller gave up a fly ball that would have been an out but the outfield was in and the game was over. Reds complete the improbable comeback and the Dodger bullpen continues to be a massive concern.
Up Next
The Dodgers and Reds continue the series with Noah Syndergaard (1-4, 6.54 ERA) faces off against LHP Brandon Williamson (0-0, 4.29 ERA) in what’s sure to be a pitcher’s duel with those numbers.
Embarrassing loss but expected from a horrible bull pen. The starting pitchers are not much better. LA will not be able to fix the BP issue via the trade deadline. They simply can’t bring enough pitchers to fix the issue. Off season? I doubt they can fix it on one off season. Of course, Roberts should be fired. Time to move on!
Typical. Blame Roberts. The bullpen that has been so solid is struggling. Ferguson couldn’t locate the zone, as it happened. Managers don’t see into the future. If the bullpen screws up, it’s on them. Roberts lets his pitchers get themselves out of trouble, as they have proven capable. The baseball equivalent of Monday morning quarterbacking is old and overplayed. Get some new material.
I would have let our best reliever Evan — who had just pitched a 1-2-3 inning — start the 9th too. maybe he even finishes the game with a save and we WIN! Ferguson was obviously struggling, and I would not have left him in after 3 batters. I would have brought in Shelby earlier.