Dodgers: Umpire Doug Eddings just saved LAD with Kris Bryant calls

If the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants had agreed on implementing robot umpires prior to the 2021 NLDS, the bottom of the fourth inning could’ve gotten dicey quickly.

[INSERT RAY LIOTTA “GOODFELLAS” LAUGHING MEME] But oh, marone, thank God that didn’t happen!

Thus far in a tight-as-all-hell Game 5, the Dodgers have largely headed back to the dugout following numerous instances of weak contact against Giants starter Logan Webb. Though LA’s bizarre switch to Corey Knebel (and then to Brusdar Graterol) looked a few degrees too cute at the time of the announcement, it technically worked, with both men throwing up scoreless frames ahead of Julio Urias’ arrival on the mound in the third.

The fourth inning, though, was a challenge for Urias — or it would’ve been if not for Doug Eddings, an extremely helpful addition behind the plate.

After a shift-beating single from Brandon Crawford, Kris Bryant stepped up to the plate. He was serene. He was patient.

He took a flagrant strike one on what should’ve been ball three, then got blatantly hosed on the 3-1 count, too. Needless to say, Bryant and the Giants did not break the scoreless tie in this particular inning.

Umpire Doug Eddings helped the Dodgers against Kris Bryant.

The wind is wild yet again on Thursday night. Deep drives are dying at the wall, especially if they’re drilled by Giants slugger Darin Ruf. Some team is bound to get a very impactful break at some point, considering how even the competition appears to be.

It certainly might’ve been Urias on the mound against Bryant here.

KB whiffed on the full count pitch, followed by a grounder to Trea Turner and a pop out in the middle of the infield. The Giants couldn’t even capitalize on a bouncing ball kicked further into foul territory by the home plate umpire himself.

Doug Eddings gave you all the clues, Mr. Policeman.

Let’s see how this one turns out, because the clueless work behind the plate in the fourth might’ve been a turning point in the Dodgers’ favor.

Dodgers: Brusdar Graterol’s sinker from NLDS Game 4 was mind-bending

Los Angeles Dodgers relief ace Brusdar Graterol's sinker has a ridiculous amount of armside run. And, oh yeah, it's 103 MPH.