It was quite the homecoming for former Cincinnati Reds All-Star reliever Alexis Díaz, making his return to Great American Ball Park since being acquired by the Dodgers back in May.
Díaz made quick work of his former teammates through 1 1⁄3 innings of work, needing just eight pitches while allowing zero baserunners en route to his first win in a Dodger uniform. As he exited the visitor’s bullpen, a chorus of boos from his old fanbase rained down upon him, and manager Dave Roberts believes the negativity he received lit a spark in him that helped him lead the Dodgers to a series clinching win, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
“I think that was personal,” Roberts said. “That was good to see. The stuff, the fastball, the slider, all that stuff was big … I think a lot of adrenaline, coming back to a place, being welcomed by boos, I think was a little bit more motivation.”
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While Díaz helped the Dodger bullpen maintain its dominance since the start of the Red Sox series, Will Smith played a huge role in the Dodgers’ late game victory on Tuesday, roping an RBI single to cut the deficit to a run before giving the Dodgers the lead with an RBI double in the top of the ninth.
His two-hit performance, raised his batting average to .325, and the chase for the batting title is clearly in sight. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register writes about Smith’s silent dominance, and how the Dodgers have helped him maintain his stellar production into the second half, something that has alluded him the past two seasons.
“Completely different (this season),” Roberts said. “He’s healthy, and I think we’re managing the workload. He’s fresh. He’s completely bought in. And he’s doing a great job. Even behind the plate, he’s been really good back there.”
Relief pitching is at the top of the Dodgers’ agenda for the trade deadline. Could that mean a potential reunion with former longtime closer Kenley Jansen? Steve Henson of the Los Angeles Times writes about what a move to bring back Jansen could look like for the Dodger bullpen. The only problem is that Jansen is determined to break the Angels’ postseason drought.
“I came here with one goal in mind,” Jansen said, “and the goal was to help this team turn around, to end that playoff drought. That’s what I’m here for.”