CHICAGO — Left discipline isn’t a place Dodgers followers continuously see Andy Pages play. In truth, getting into Tuesday’s sequence opener at Wrigley Discipline, the 24-year-old had solely began a recreation there 5 occasions (seven whole video games performed in left) in two large league seasons.
Between the Main and Minor Leagues, it’s simply his least performed of the three outfield positions. So seeing him begin the sport in left for Los Angeles was notable.
“Clearly, it is a greater left discipline right here,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated previous to the 11-10, 10-inning loss. “I really feel comfy placing him wherever within the outfield.”
It wasn’t clean crusing for Pages, however he got here by when the Dodgers wanted him to. Within the backside of the sixth, because the Cubs led 7-5 with left fielder Ian Happ on first and one out, designated hitter Seiya Suzuki knocked a base hit into left. Pages booted the ball and let it roll behind him, permitting Happ and Suzuki to each transfer into scoring place.
Pages rapidly redeemed himself, although, when the following hitter — Chicago first baseman Michael Busch — flied out to not-too-deep left discipline. Contemplating Pages’ arm power settled within the 94th percentile getting into Tuesday (per Statcast), operating on him and not using a deeper fly ball could be dangerous.
Pages received set beneath the ball, and as soon as he received a deal with on it in his glove, he launched it towards residence plate at 97.7 mph, per Statcast. The throw made it shut, although the unique name was secure. Roberts challenged the play, and replay evaluation dominated Pages had thrown Happ out with the second-hardest outfield help this season (behind Toronto’s Addison Barger on Friday at 98.8 mph).
“That was large,” heart fielder Tommy Edman stated. “It simply retains us within the ballgame. They had been type of making an attempt to push the envelope somewhat bit. All people is aware of Andy’s received an ideal arm, and he simply did a great job of throwing a strike to residence and giving us an opportunity to come back again.”
The Dodgers actually cashed in on that chance.
Pages himself kicked off Los Angeles’ rally within the high of the seventh with a leadoff single, later scoring the primary run within the five-run body. He had earlier contributed a two-out, solo residence run within the second. Total, within the inning, the Dodgers used two different doubles to assist them reap the benefits of two Cubs free passes and an error at third base to take the lead.
“It was an enormous play,” Roberts stated of Pages’ outfield help. “[Left-handed reliever Anthony] Banda wasn’t notably sharp tonight, but it surely type of stored us within the ballgame. It was an enormous out, large double-play ball, and he performed a great ballgame. The previous couple of video games, with the bat, looks as if he is much more assured, after which clearly, the protection within the final seven to 10 days has been loads higher. Only a actually good play.”
Nonetheless, the nice occasions didn’t final so long as the Dodgers would’ve favored.
Left-hander Alex Vesia gave up a two-run shot to Chicago proper fielder Kyle Tucker within the backside of the eighth to chop the result in one. Then, Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya hit a two-out, game-tying homer off southpaw Tanner Scott that landed within the center-field basket and despatched the sport to extras.
Edman started the highest of the tenth because the runner on second, however Los Angeles might solely get him to 3rd. Chicago then walked it off with Happ’s leadoff RBI single.
“Yeah, there have been some balls that had been hit that flew out,” Roberts stated concerning the Wrigley wind, which had been blowing out to heart many of the recreation. “However that is baseball, and we had the identical alternatives. We had been one out away. We simply could not put them away.”
Roberts stated pregame Tuesday the plan for Wednesday night time was a bullpen recreation, and he felt that “we now have sufficient arms and innings to get by tomorrow.” With starter Dustin Could grinding by 5 innings and 6 relievers overlaying the remaining, although, the Dodgers will talk about calling on a brisker arm.
“There may be a pending transfer for some size, probably,” Roberts stated, “however I’ll speak to the pitching guys right here shortly and work out the place we’re at.”
