The Dodgers are just one win away from securing their third consecutive NLCS appearance after a fierce duel between Chris Sale and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
During Tuesday’s contest, Miguel Rojas made an off-balanced throw over to first to get Ronald Acuña Jr. for the final out of the bottom of the sixth inning. While batting in the top of the eighth inning against left-hander Dylan Lee, Rojas fouled a pitch off and began to grimace after his follow-through. Rojas would exit in the middle of the at-bat,
requiring Tommy Edman to pinch hit and man second base for him.
Rojas spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following the Dodgers’ 3-1 Game 3 victory, noting that his back began to tighten on that throw to first while feeling good enough to prepare for Game 4.
“The tightness started to happen after the play at second base when I kind slid right there with the grass,” said Rojas. “I wasn’t able to bounce back from what I was feeling on my hip, and my lower back tied up… I’m looking forward to be ready to go tomorrow if they need me.”
Rojas also expressed praise for Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s brilliant performance against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, as the right-hander tossed seven innings allowing four hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out 10 hitters, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.
“He’s becoming one of the best pitchers in this stage,” said Miguel Rojas, who exited with lower back pain in the eighth inning. “Obviously he hasn’t won a Cy Young here or hasn’t been the best pitcher in the league, but we feel like every time he takes the mound, he’s the best pitcher for us. … And I know he will do whatever to help us out.”
October Kiké Hernández came out to play on Tuesday, as in his second at-bat against Chris Sale on Tuesday, he launched a two-run home run— his 17th career postseason home run— which ultimately made the difference in a 3-1 win. Hernández described his mentality when facing Sale the second time around, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.
“My mentality was to grind out an at-bat, get a good pitch to hit, and if not, just be patient,” Hernández said. “He doubled up on the changeup. So he showed me where the changeup was going to start for a ball, and then the next pitch my eyes recognized, it popped. I’m lucky that I put a good swing on it.”
