Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Defends Call That Preceded Padres’ Triple Play

The Los Angeles Dodgers were flat for most of the first eight innings Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.

Just when the momentum began to shift in the bottom of the ninth, the rug was pulled out from underneath them thanks to a game-ending triple play.

Trailing by three runs against All-Star closer Robert Suarez, Will Smith, Tommy Edman, and Kiké Hernández each delivered singles, igniting the Dodger Stadium crowd that had been waiting nearly three hours for a big inning.

The Dodgers had strung enough hits together that Shohei Ohtani was on deck when disaster struck.

With two on and no outs, and Shohei Ohtani waiting on deck, Miguel Rojas hit into a game-ending triple play, sealing the Dodgers’ crushing loss to the Padres.

“Yeah, definitely a tough one for myself,” Rojas said. “I’m totally confident that I can get to a fastball. Unfortunately, I hit it on the ground and it’s been tough for me the last couple of days. I haven’t been able to get the job done, but definitely this one, especially for me, I think I let the team down on that one.”

It wasn’t entirely Rojas’ fault. Prior to Suarez’s first pitch, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave Rojas the sign for a sacrifice bunt. Getting it down would have put runners on second and third with one out and Ohtani up with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman waiting in the wings.

Roberts defended his decision to let Rojas swing away after he took the first pitch.

“I just don’t think that you’re expecting a triple play,” said Roberts. “(Rojas) hit the ball hard. And I just can’t play the game of, if it gets through then it’s a great play, and then if it’s hit right at him, it’s a bad play. The game tells you what to do. And in that situation, everyone is playing in, the shortstop is in the six-hole. There’s just a lot of holes out there. That’s just kind of the way you play baseball.”

“There’s less than a 1 percent chance that Shohei doesn’t come up to bat,” Roberts added. “Unfortunately, that small percentage came into play.”

After falling behind 0-1, the Dodgers made the surprising decision to let Rojas swing. Both Rojas and manager Dave Roberts explained the call was influenced by the Padres’ defensive setup. L.A. anticipated that if Rojas laid down a bunt, San Diego would execute a wheel play to get the lead runner at third, which they had shown on the missed bunt attempt on the first pitch.

The Dodgers have another opportunity against the Padres on Wednesday night.

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

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