Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Praises Ryan Brasier After Impressive Escape
After Phil Bickford loaded the bases in just 12 pitches in the seventh inning Thursday night, the Dodgers’ 6-4 lead was suddenly under major threat. The Dodger bullpen had been, often rightly so, maligned for much of the season because of their spotty performances late in games, and it seemed that Thursday night’s game would be yet another loss chalked up to poor relief pitching.
Ryan Brasier, who had a spotty start to the season himself after being released by the Boston Red Sox, was invited to take over for Bickford and inherit perhaps the least desirable situation for a reliever: bases loaded, no outs.
Brasier mixed it up for each at-bat and left the field as he had entered it: with the Dodgers still up 6-4.
A low slider forced came 98.5 mph back Brasier’s way off of Bryan Reynolds’ bat, but Miguel Rojas made a leaping grab to get the out and prevent any runners advancing. A 95-mph sinker caused Henry Davis to line drive to Mookie Betts. Finally, Brasier’s 90-mph cutter caused Carlos Santana to hit a pop fly to end the inning. The stadium roared for a pitcher who has only made seven appearances as a Dodger.
“There’s just no panic,” Roberts said of Brasier. “I think Ryan pitched a good bit in Boston, so when you’re in that environment, you can pitch anywhere, and he showed that. We’ve used him a lot and for him to come in bases loaded and nobody out, that would have been the game. You don’t see too many times in a game where you see bases loaded and nobody out and you come away unscathed.”
(Via The Orange County Register)
Since becoming a Dodger, Brasier has a 2.16 ERA, 8 strikeouts and only 2 walks across 8 innings. As the Dodger bullpen has been a lightning rod for criticism, due largely to their 4.47 collective ERA, Brasier has been a much-needed addition to a team struggling to fight for the top spot in the NL West.
The Dodgers have two more games before the All-Star break, during which they hope to heal up. Multiple starters, such as Clayton Kershaw and Noah Syndergaard, have been sidelined by injury as well as relief pitcher Shelby Miller.
The Dodgers will face off against the Los Angeles Angels Friday at 7:10 p.m. PDT.
