Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Bullpen Passes the Test in Game One
![DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 7: Kenta Maeda #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated by Justin Turner #10 after a save from a ninth inning appearance with a runner on and one out against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fdodgersway-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1028957846-850x560-689b179526b9eebbeba27ac2af880f8a.jpg)
The Dodgers eeked out a 4-2 victory last night to pull to within a half-game of the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers will look to regain sole possession of first place with a win this afternoon.
The Dodgers last trip to Colorado ended in disappointment. Three late blown leads cost the Dodgers three games in the standings. The Dodgers are once again without Kenley Jansen who stayed back in LA as his cardiologist recommended. On Friday night the Dodgers bullpen was put to the test.
After Clayton Kershaw pitched six solid innings the Dodger bullpen was tasked with holding a two-run lead over the last three innings. All the Dodgers’ bullpen did was combine for three scoreless innings using five different relievers; Caleb Ferguson, Dylan Floro, Ross Stripling, Scott Alexander, and Kenta Maeda.
Ferguson pitched the seventh inning but left two runners on for Dylan Floro. Floro came in and walked a batter but then got out of the seventh inning unscathed. The eighth inning was started by Ross Stripling and finished by Scott Alexander. Alexander began the ninth inning and parted for Kenta Maeda with one out in the ninth inning.
Kenta Maeda came in after Scott Alexander walked a batter and allowed a runner on in the ninth. Maeda got DJ LeMahieu to fly out to left field and then struck out Nolan Arenado to nail down the save and put the Dodgers half a game back of the Rockies. The Dodgers will need their bullpen to follow a similar blueprint these next two games in order to reclaim first place.
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- The Tulsa Drillers and OKC Dodgers each lost their playoff games last night to go down 2-1 in their series. The Quakes won 1-0 on a home run by Omar Estevez to put them up 2-1 in their best of five series. All three teams are scheduled to play today.