The Dodgers had a couple debatable roster decisions to make this week.
Based on Sunday’s results, they might have been right on both.
In a 9-1 rubber-match win over the Phillies, the Dodgers were led offensively by their two recent Triple-A call-ups, getting fourth-inning home runs from Alex Freeland and Ryan Ward that helped them take two of three games in this National League Division Series rematch.
“We had spent the whole morning hitting together, talking through our routine together, talking about our plan versus the Philly guys that we felt we’re gonna be facing,” Ward said. “And to have us both homer in the same inning, this is a really cool moment for us.”
Freeland went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs from the No. 9 spot Sunday, opening the scoring with a double off the wall in center in the second before extending the lead with a solo home run in the fourth.
Ward also left the yard in the bottom of the fourth, giving him his first career home run in his first career game at Dodger Stadium.
Once they were both back in the dugout, the two wrapped each other in a hug.
“I’m just uber excited for Ryan,” Freeland said. “I don’t think there’s anybody that deserves it more than him. So to share that moment with him is special.”
At the start of this week, neither player was on the Dodgers’ big-league roster. Only after injuries to Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández did the need for reinforcements from the minors arise.
Even then, Freeland and Ward were not guaranteed to be recalled. For each of their spots, there were other options the team could’ve considered.
Freeland effectively got the nod over the since-demoted Hyeseong Kim, who was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City after a recent slump cost him his platoon job at second base. Ward, likewise, was called up over breakout outfield prospect James Tibbs III, receiving only his second career opportunity in the majors after a brief two-game cameo earlier this year.
Both decisions were questioned by some corners of the fan base.
Both were then validated in Sunday’s blowout.
“Everybody in this locker room is a superstar,” Freeland said. “A lot of us get overlooked, just because we have guys like Shohei and Freddie. But everybody in this clubhouse can ball.”
What it means
After a late-game slip-up from Tanner Scott on Saturday night, the Dodgers bounced right back with their 14th win out of the last 17 overall.
Of all the victories in that span, Sunday’s was among the most impressive.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto navigated traffic in a scoreless 5 ⅓-inning start, working around four hits, two walks and one hit batter while setting a season high with 10 strikeouts.
The Dodgers’ offense, in a refreshing change of pace, also provided him with plenty of run support, tagging Phillies rookie starter Andrew Painter with four runs in 3 ⅓ innings before pouring it on late.
In addition to Freeland and Ward, the Dodgers also got two hits each from Shohei Ohtani (extending his on-base streak to 16 games), Kyle Tucker (snapping a 1-for-16 slump previously on this homestand) and Max Muncy (including his team-leading 14th home run); and two RBIs apiece from Alex Call (on a pinch-hit single in the fifth) and Freddie Freeman (on a pair of sacrifice flies).
The team has now won five-straight series, and has a season-high 5 1/2 game lead in the National League West division.
“On the heels of last night, to be able to bounce back like we did, that was a good thing and a good sign for our club,” Roberts said.
Who’s hot
Ward hasn’t gotten many at-bats during his limited time in the majors this season.
But when he’s been at the plate, he has made the most of them
During his MLB debut on April 19 in Colorado, the longtime minor-league prospect had a pair of singles and an RBI. And after going 1-for-2 with his home run Sunday — he was lifted early for Call’s pinch-hit at-bat in the fifth — he is now hitting .375 in his first three career big-league games.
“Even talking to Freeland today on the bench, he made a note that Ryan was probably the most positive guy down there in triple A,” Roberts said of Ward, who had to wait seven years in the Dodgers’ farm system before finally reaching the majors this season.
“That speaks to his character. If there’s anyone that has the right to be salty and frustrated, it’s him. But he was professional about it, and he was an easy one to recall and get him here. And I’m going to try to give him some opportunities, so he can make the most of them.”
Who’s not
Home plate umpire Sean Barber, who had a whopping eight calls overturned via the new ABS challenge system.
The first two came in the first inning, when backup catcher Dalton Rushing — who was previously just 3-for-8 on ABS challenges from behind the plate this year — got Yamamoto a pair of strikeouts by successfully getting a couple called balls converted to third strikes.
Freeman found himself on the other end of the equation in the bottom half of the inning, when he had what was initially ruled a walk in a full count overturned to a strikeout after already jogging down to first base.
Not every ABS review went against Barber. The Dodgers and Phillies lost one challenge each.
Still, the eight overturned calls were just one shy of the most in a game this season.
Up next
The Dodgers head to Arizona on Monday for a four-game series against the Diamondbacks. The opener will feature Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.70 ERA) against left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1, 2.31 ERA).
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
