Los Angeles Dodgers fans expect that when reliever Edwin Díaz comes into a game, well, it's all over for an opposing team. Unfortunately, Díaz didn't have his best stuff on Thursday night.
The Milwaukee Brewers, coming into this National League Championship Series rematch, put up three runs in the top of the ninth inning. That wiped out a two-run Dodgers advantage, thanks to an earlier Max Muncy three-run home run.
It was just another example of how sluggish Los Angeles has looked at times. Of course, the Dodgers thought that their bullpen situation was going to be better with Díaz on the team. He's found himself not performing up to his standards, though.
Yes, the bullpen has shown signs of improvement over last season. Games like Thursday night's disaster, though, might leave fans shaking their heads.
Brewers take early lead
Milwaukee got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning as Sasaki showed signs of wildness. With two outs and the bases loaded, Joey Ortiz walked and Gary Sanchez scored to give the Brewers a 1-0 edge. David Hamilton then followed with another bases-loaded walk, putting Milwaukee up 2-0.
Los Angeles got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Catcher Ben Rortvedt singled to left and Miguel Rojas scored, cutting into the Milwaukee lead at 2-1.
The Dodgers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth against Brewers starter Shane Drohan. With one out, Tommy Edman walked and stole second base. Freddie Freeman challenged a balls-and-strikes call at the plate, had it overturned, and walked. Antonio Senzatela then came on in relief of Drohan.
Teoscar Hernandez struck out on a foul tip and that made it two outs in the inning. Muncy, who came on as a pinch hitter, smacked his 23rd home run this season over the right-center field wall. Edman and Freeman scored ahead of Muncy, putting the Dodgers comfortably ahead at 4-2.
Or, the Dodgers thought they were comfortably in position to win.
Dodgers can't clinch win
Not so fast there, Los Angeles fans.
Díaz came on in relief of Tanner Scott, who kept the Brewers' hitters in check. Díaz struck out William Contreras, giving those fans at Dodger Stadium some good vibrations about getting a win here.
Joey Ortiz singled, followed by a Hamilton single to center. Ortiz moved to third base on the hit. Jackson Chourio then hit a single to right fielder Kyle Tucker, driving home Ortiz and getting Hamilton to third base, The Brewers were now within 4-3.
Garrett Mitchell then singled to right field, too, and Hamilton came in to score. That tied things up at 4-4. Díaz struck out Sanchez, but Dodgers manage Dave Roberts came out to get him. Alex Vesia came on in relief, looking to keep things tied for the Dodgers.
Tucker got a workout late in this one. Jake Bauers, who has been struggling, singled to him and Chourio scored, giving Milwaukee an improbable 5-4 advantage. Trevor Megill came on in the bottom of the ninth and earned his 22nd save.
Final score: Brewers 5, Dodgers 4.
Sasaki went six innings for Los Angeles, giving up four hits, two earned runs, walked five, and struck out two. He now has a 4.46 ERA this season. Jack Dreyer, Enrique Henriquez, and Scott earned holds out of the Dodgers' bullpen, so they were good.
Díaz suffered his fourth blown save this season and got the loss, falling to 2-2 overall in his first season in Dodger blue. In two-thirds of an inning, Díaz gave up four hits, three earned runs, didn't walk a batter, and struck out two.