Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen suffered another late-game collapse and though the offense managed to rescue them initially, the team went on to fall to the Colorado Rockies in extra innings.
The loss dropped the Dodgers to an MLB-worst 1-10 in extra innings this season, including losing nine in a row. “I have no idea. If you guys have anything, let me know,” answered Justin Turner when asked if he could explain the Dodgers’ record in extras.
“I think 1-10 this year in extra innings. That’s obviously not good.”
Turner went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and his walk with the bases loaded tied the game in the ninth inning. However, that was followed by Will Smith, Sheldon Neuse and AJ Pollock each striking out swinging.
The Dodgers scored three runs in the first inning, then one each in the third, sixth and ninth. They have been prone to both offensive explosions and prolonged droughts.
“We’ve got to find ways as an offense to keep adding on and extending the lead. And we’ve got to do the little things defensively to take care of the baseball and protect those leads,” Turner said. “Obviously we haven’t done a very good job of it.”
And though the Dodgers have held a lead or been tied in each of their past four losses, Turner doesn’t consider the stretch any more difficult than other defeats.
“I mean, I think all losses are kind of created the same,” he said. “Like I said, I think offensively we have to find a way to do a better job of extending leads throughout the game.
“Even this last month or so we’ve been pretty reliant on big crooked numbers, and not able to find ways to scratch off some ones and twos in there. We need to keep on adding on as we get into these games.”
Roberts unable to explain Dodgers’ woes in extras
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remained unable to pinpoint what is behind his club’s struggles in extra innings. “We’ve lost them on the road, we’ve lost them at home. I really don’t have an explanation,” Roberts reiterated.
“I really don’t. I think certain of those games, offensively we had a chance to win. Other times we didn’t hold the lead. I’d like to think it’ll even itself out, but outside of dissecting each game, I really couldn’t give you an educated answer.”
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