Dave Roberts on Dodgers 5-Run Blown Lead: ‘No Excuse to Lose’

Entering the 9th inning on Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers were feeling good about themselves. They held a 9-4 lead and were on the verge of taking two straight games against the Detroit Tigers following a bad series sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies.

However, fate had other ideas and a nightmare inning ensued. The Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the 9th to send the game into extra innings.

Right-hander Ricky Vanasco took the mound to start the inning but quickly showed that he wasn’t cut out to get the save. He allowed three hits before being taken out and was replaced by closer Evan Phillips .

Phillips, normally a surefire reliever, proceeded to allow a few more hits, eventually surrendering the game-tying home run. Los Angeles would go on to lose the game by a score of 11-9 in extra innings.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with SportsNet LA after the game to unpack what had happened. His comments were direct and to the point, making no excuses for the blown game.

“It’s just not us. It just doesn’t happen and it certainly happened today…we had a five-run lead and there’s just no excuse for losing that game and we just gotta be better.”

The Dodgers pitching staff has been taxed due to injury but entering the 9th inning with a five-run lead should be enough to get the win. The offense finally woke up after a few off days but it wasn’t meant to be for Los Angeles to put together a complete performance.

Los Angeles has now lost seven of their last 10 games overall as they go through a rough stretch. There is one game left before the All-Star break, a rest that is badly needed by this entire team. The Dodgers will look to take the series from the Tigers on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 10:40 a.m. PT.

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!