LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers shuffled their slumping lineup for Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night, and the changes did absolutely nothing to prevent another dismal offensive performance
by their powerhouse lineup.
The Dodgers managed just four hits against Toronto rookie Trey Yesavage and his bullpen during the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory. Kiké Hernández's third-inning homer was the Dodgers' only extra-base hit, and they struck out a whopping 15 times — at least once by every member of the reconfigured starting lineup.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Mookie Betts down in the order for the first time in four years and benched Andy Pages in an attempt to jump-start an offense that is on the verge of ruining Los Angeles' bid to become baseball's first repeat champions since 2000.
“Doesn’t feel great,” Roberts said. “You clearly see (the Blue Jays) finding ways to get hits and move the baseball forward, and we’re not doing a good job of it.”
The Dodgers are batting a dismal .202 in the World Series after failing to mount anything of consequence in Game 5. They went 10 for 61 over the past two games at home, including 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position — a situation that only came up once in Game 5.
Will Smith went 1 for 4 in Betts' customary No. 2 spot, contributing only a ninth-inning single. Betts went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the No. 3 spot, and Game 3 hero Freddie Freeman went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts as the cleanup hitter. Slugger Max Muncy went 0 for 3, and so did Tommy Edman.
Even Shohei Ohtani couldn't contribute, going 0 for 4 in the leadoff spot in his second straight hitless game since clubbing four extra-base hits and reaching base nine times in LA's 18-inning victory in Game 3.
Only the Dodgers' unrelated outfielders named Hernández had an effective approach in Game 5. Kiké's homer was his first of another solid postseason for the Dodgers' career leader in postseason games played, while Teoscar Hernández went 2 for 4 — but also struck out to end the game.
Roberts made the changes for Game 5 after the defending champions struggled at the plate despite splitting the first four games with the Jays. Los Angeles has only 38 hits in the series — 15 fewer than Toronto — and has relied heavily on eight homers to drive in its 18 runs.
“In the postseason, you’ve got to be a little bit more reactive than the regular season,” Roberts said before the game. “When I netted out the value of what I feel gives us the best chance to win today, that was a decision I made.”
Roberts wouldn’t get any deeper into the details of his reasons for the moves at the top of his lineup.
“As far as Mookie and Will, I just feel that that’s the best way to win the game tonight,” Roberts said. “So both players were alerted, and both players are all on board.”
Game 5 was the first time since 2021 that Betts wasn't starting in one of the top two spots in Los Angeles' lineup.
The eight-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion has been the Dodgers' No. 2 hitter nearly all season behind Ohtani. Roberts resisted any temptation to move Betts during rough spots in his underwhelming regular season at the plate.
But Betts is 3 for 23 with no RBIs and no extra-base hits in the World Series after going 2 for 16 without scoring a run in the last three games at Dodger Stadium.
“There’s some mechanics,” Roberts said. “They’re making good pitches. He’s working hard to kind of clean some things up. ... All that matters is just going out there and taking four or five good at-bats, and so all I’m concerned about is tonight, and I know that’s what’s on Mookie’s mind, too.”
Smith is 5 for 21 with a homer and four RBIs in the World Series while also catching every inning.
Alex Call went 0 for 2 with a walk while taking the lineup spot of Pages, who is 1 for 15 in the World Series and 4 for 50 with one RBI in the entire postseason. Call played left field while Kiké Hernández moved to center.
Pages had an .828 OPS at the start of July during a first half that inspired All-Star talk around the outfielder, but he dropped off in the second half. Only his defense in center field — and the Dodgers' lack of a tempting alternative — likely kept Pages in the lineup this long into his October struggles.
Roberts said he inserted Call to improve the Dodgers' “at-bat quality, seeing pitches, the potential to get somebody on base for Shohei at the top. I feel good with Kiké in center field and Alex’s defense in left.”
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