Dodgers’ Miguel Vargas Takes Responsibility For Near Collision With Andy Pages

With the Boston Red Sox leading the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 in the top of the seventh, Miguel Vargas gifted Dominic Smith with a leadoff double.

The play itself was ugly and put Vargas’ outfield inexperience on display. Smith hit a ball in the left-center gap and both Vargas and center fielder Andy Pages called for the ball. In that situation, Pages has priority. Instead, the two players nearly collided and the ball popped out of Vargas’ glove.

“I didn’t hear him — it was too loud,” Vargas said. “I have to respect his priority, too, so I take the whole responsibility for that.”

Thankfully, the run didn’t score but it was a learning experience for the young outfielder. But, the next inning he redeemed himself.

With one out in the top of the eighth, Vargas caught a short fly ball in left field and doubled off the runner, Tyler O’Neill, at first base to end the inning. Shortstop Miguel Rojas deked O’Neill just enough at second base to delay his retreat back to first. The play was reviewed but Vargas got him by about half a step.

“That was a weird play,” Rojas said. “You don’t see a lot of assists from the outfield like that. I saw him jogging back slowly, so I said, ‘Maybe I got him.’ ”

Vargas made amends again when he opened the home half of the inning with a leadoff walk, avoiding a fastball cutting toward his head. Chris Taylor struck out, Shohei Ohtani doubled down the left field line, and then Red Sox manager Alex Cora elected to intentionally walk Will Smith to pitch to Freddie Freeman.

Freeman hooked a down-and-in, 0-and-1 curveball over the right-field wall for his seventh career grand slam and a 4-1 lead. The crowd at Dodger Stadium broke out into chants of “Freddie! Freddie!” and Freeman came out for a curtain call.

“From the other dugout, it’s a no-win situation, pick your poison,” manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s a tough one. It started because of Vargy getting on base and Shohei’s double, which kind of put the onus on the manager, A.C., to make a decision.”

It worked out for Freeman, who improved to 5-for-9 with the bases loaded this season. Daniel Hudson allowed a single in the ninth for his fifth save and the Dodgers maintained their seven-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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