NEW YORK — Even though the Dodgers have a commanding 3-1 lead over the Yankees in the World Series, they’ve missed plenty of opportunities to pile on runs. In Game 4 at Yankee Stadium, Los Angeles stranded four runners and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leading to an 11-4 loss.
But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t worried about the Yankees possibly taking another game in the series. Despite losing by a lopsided score, the Dodgers didn’t have to exhaust its bullpen, leaving them with plenty of maneuverability in Game 5.
“I don’t think anyone expected those guys to lay down,” Roberts said. “We had some at-bats that could have been better, but we knew it was a bullpen game and as far as outcomes, to have six guys in your pen that are feeling good, rested, I feel good about that.”
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There were situations in Game 4 where the Dodgers strategically chose to stay away from their bullpen. In the third inning, with the bases loaded and Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe at the plate, Roberts opted to stick with right-hander Daniel Hudson.
To that point, Hudson had faced five hitters, loading the bases on 18 pitches, nine of which were called balls (50%). Roberts could have gone to the bullpen, with a pair of left-handers following Volpe — Anthony Banda and Alex Vesia offer a preferable matchup since they’re also lefties — but instead, he stuck with Hudson, who had just forced Anthony Rizzo to pop out.
“He had Volpe up,” Roberts said. “I’m not going to go get somebody up in the third inning to get Volpe, where you just popped a guy up.”
Volpe had been 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts in 14 World Series plate appearances before that at-bat. He had just one extra-base hit, a double, all postseason. But now, he made the Dodgers pay with a grand slam into the left field seats, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead in the third inning.
Another situation for Roberts to salvage the game presented itself in the bottom of the eighth inning. With the Dodgers trailing 6-4, Brent Honeywell entered the game to try to keep the game close.
Initially, the inning started ideally with Rizzo grounding out on the first pitch. But then, Volpe doubled on a six-pitch at-bat and Austin Wells worked a seven-pitch walk, putting runners on first and second. Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo followed with an 11-pitch fielder’s choice that scored Volpe, who had previously reached third on a stolen base.
With Honeywell having thrown 25 pitches to four batters and the Dodgers trailing 7-4, Roberts could have reached into the pen for one of his top arms. Instead, he left Honeywell in to allow five runs on the inning, throwing 50 pitches in the process.
It was a risky plan for Roberts, not using his high-leverage arms in an attempt to sweep the series. The Yankees’ top starter Gerrit Cole takes the ball in Game 5 against Jack Flaherty, who has a 6.10 ERA this postseason. But Flaherty will have an arsenal of relievers waiting to take over should he struggle at any point.
“I feel great. It’s about the guys that you have available,” Roberts said. “Where we’re at with tomorrow, knowing there’s an off day behind that, we’re in a great spot.”
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Manny Gómez may be reached at mgomez@njadvancemedia.com.
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