![\"Yoshinobu](\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi_webp\/YrSApBs8VLw\/maxresdefault.webp\")
<\/picture><\/div>\nHow the ninth inning unfolded in the Dodgers\u2019 4-3 walk-off loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The implosion started with a pitching change, as Roberts went to remove Yamamoto after a dazzling and dominant 8\u2154 innings.<\/p>\n
The right-hander had been in cruise control, with his fastball playing up and his command (outside of two third-inning walks that were erased by a double play) spot on. Even the home run to Holliday came on a decent pitch, an inside cutter that the former top prospect lifted just deep enough over a short wall in right center \u2014 where Andy Pages curiously pulled up instead of attempting to rob it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just felt he deserved the chance to get a no-hitter,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI felt that the guys were feeling it for him, were pulling for him. And I wanted it bad for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, with both the no-no and shutout dashed, and Yamamoto\u2019s pitch count up to 112, Roberts wanted to extend him no further. Thus, as Yamamoto left to a chorus of cheers, Treinen came trotting out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt that we pushed him far enough,\u201d Roberts added. \u201cWe gotta be able to get one out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Treinen came close to getting it against his first batter, pumping two quick strikes past rookie outfielder Jeremiah Jackson. But then Jackson battled back, working the count full. And when Treinen left a sinker over the plate, Jackson belted it to left for a double.<\/p>\n
One on. No panic. Still one out to get.<\/p>\n
![\"Yoshinobu](\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi_webp\/iEDl46Nxn4s\/maxresdefault.webp\")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nTwo batters later, the alarm bells started ringing. With two strikes against Gunnar Henderson, Treinen yanked a sweeper that hit him. Then, in the next at-bat, a wild pitch advanced the two tying runners into scoring position.<\/p>\n
Two on. Concern level rising. But still one out to get.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got swing-and-miss stuff, but it was hard to find the zone,\u201d said catcher Ben Rortvedt, a journeyman deadline acquisition who had only been called up from the minor leagues on Thursday, and was only behind the plate because of injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to come in in those spots. I\u2019m sure the bullpen was probably tuned in on every pitch and was pushing for him to go the full way.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Yoshinobu](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/1d79c4e\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/6023x4015+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F5b%2F8e%2Ff226b89d4e5498ffe955d5d4340a%2F2234080543.jpg)
<\/picture>\nDodgers reliever Blake Treinen speaks with pitching coach Mark Prior and catcher Ben Rortvedt during the ninth inning Saturday against the Orioles.<\/p>\n
(Jess Rapfogel \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
However, Treinen countered, \u201cthat\u2019s not an excuse for how I performed.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the wild pitch, Treinen walked Ryan Mountcastle to load the bases. A mound visit at that point failed to settle him down, with another walk to Colton Cowser forcing in one run and prompting Roberts to finally make another move to the bullpen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlake Treinen has been in some of the toughest spots that any relief pitcher can imagine,\u201d Roberts said, in explaining why he gave the right-hander as much leash as he did. \u201cI have hard time believing that any spot or moment is too big for him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same did not apply to the Dodgers\u2019 new pitcher, embattled closer Tanner Scott. The previous night, he\u2019d given up a walk-off homer to clinch what felt like another low point of the season. Now, he faced Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera with the crowd going wild.<\/p>\n
Bases loaded. Lead down to 3-2. But, still<\/i>, just one out to get.<\/p>\n
Scott missed low with a first-pitch fastball. He evened the count with another heater down the middle. The 1-and-1 offering was well-placed, a 97.4 mph four-seamer well below the bottom of the zone. But Rivera got his bat to it, sending a line drive into center for a two-run, walk-off single.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut somebody else in a position that they shouldn\u2019t be in,\u201d Treinen said. \u201cI have to get one flippin\u2019 out, and I didn\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Yoshinobu](\"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/c855851\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3369x2246+0+0\/resize\/320x213!\/format\/webp\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8a%2Fb9%2F6517cba24111a5f5c8176c8b5e9e%2Fdodgers-orioles-baseball-84709.jpg)
<\/picture>\nBaltimore\u2019s Emmanuel Rivera, third from left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single in the ninth inning against the Dodgers on Saturday.<\/p>\n
(Stephanie Scarbrough \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Indeed, it was all supposed to go so different.<\/p>\n
Before the game, Roberts had gathered his scuffling clubhouse and implored them to loosen up and not try to be perfect. He saw so many of signs of it in the first eight innings, from not only Yamamoto but a lineup that produced 10 hits and manufactured runs in three different innings.<\/p>\n
It was the first time on this trip the Dodgers (78-64) \u2014 who now lead the National League West by just one game over the San Diego Padres, after they ended a five-game losing streak with a win on Saturday in Colorado \u2014 had held a lead at any point of a contest.<\/p>\n
It was the first time in weeks they seemed to play with energy, life and some sustainable confidence.<\/p>\n
One more out, and it could\u2019ve been a turning point in the season.<\/p>\n
![\"Yoshinobu](\"https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi_webp\/i9Xdq2YfoJY\/maxresdefault.webp\")
<\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u201cThere\u2019s really no words,\u201d Treinen said. \u201cYou\u2019re paid to be a professional and at least throw strikes, and I didn\u2019t do that. Cost one of the better outings I\u2019ve ever seen in my career with Yama. He deserves better than that. Offense deserves better than that. Just really sucks to be on that end of it. … That\u2019s a pretty low point for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
And, of course, for the team, as well; the game ending so shockingly, so disastrously, Roberts couldn\u2019t even describe his sinking club as snake-bitten, just continuing to squander opportunities to win games they should.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you walk two guys and you can\u2019t put guys away, it\u2019s hard to say you\u2019re snake bit,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cYou make your own breaks. And [Treinen] wasn\u2019t good tonight. Very uncharacteristic, but it happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe gotta be able to get one out. We just got to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws 8 2\/3 innings of no-hit ball before Baltimore rallies for a 4-3 walk-off win to send the Dodgers to their fifth consecutive loss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":89702,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n