September 25th, 2024 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka We hear the promo all the time:
“Step on the bag, throw to second, throw to first, that’s a triple play!”
It happened … and at the absolute worst possible time – unless you happen to be a San Diego Padres fan. But you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you were.
To say that Tuesday night’s game between the National League West first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and the NL West second-place San Diego Padres was an important one would be a gross understatement. It was a HUGE game. One which the Dodgers flat out gave away, but more on that in a minute.
In the bottom of the fifth inning in front of a sold out Dodger Stadium crowd of 50,369, extremely popular Dodgers utility infielder Miguel Rojas grounded into a routine out to Padres first baseman Donovan Solano for the first out of the then 4-1 ballgame, with the Friars on top.
And then, with no outs in the bottom of the seventh and the score still 4-1 and with Dodgers pinch hitter Kiké Hernández on first base having led off the inning with a line-drive single to left, Rojas grounded into a 5-4-3 double play double play to Padres third baseman Manny Machado to second baseman Jake Cronenworth to Solano to clear the bases.
And then, with no outs in the bottom of the ninth and the score still 4-1, and with Dodgers catcher Will Smith on second base having led off the inning with a single to left followed by a single to right by Dodgers center fielder Tommy Edman, Kiké singled to center to score Smith, making it a 4-2 ballgame, with Edman representing the tying run at first base.
And then it happened.
Yep, Rojas hit into an around-the-horn triple play to end the inning and the game. Although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts challenged the play (because he had nothing to lose by doing so), it was a perfectly executed:
“Step on the bag, throw to second, throw to first, that’s a triple play!”
Roberts’ challenge was an exercise in futility.
(SportsNet LA)
“It’s shocking. It’s the least likely outcome,” Roberts said postgame. “Obviously looking at how the game’s played and how many triple plays are turned every year, and tonight with Shohei (on deck), it’s very disappointing.”
(SportsNet LA)
“It’s been tough for me the last couple days, I haven’t been able to get the job done, but definitely this one, especially for me, I think I let the team down,” Rojas told reporters postgame. “We got to come back tomorrow. Win tomorrow, win the next day. I feel like that’s the mentality of everybody in this clubhouse, trying to win this series is going to be important for us going forward.,” Rojas added.
(SportsNet LA)
Getting back to that flat out gave away thing, the guy who actually “…let the team down” was the guy that the Dodgers signed to a 12-year/$365 million contract back on July 22, 2023 – Mookie Betts. In the bottom of the first inning Betts got caught off third base by Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka to Cronenworth to Machado to run the Dodgers out of a potentially big inning.
To add insult to injury (again), the Dodgers went a dismal 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position while stranding seven runners on base to end their night.
…well that and that triple play thing.
With the loss, the Dodgers lead over San Diego is now a mere 2.0 games, with only five games remaining in the 2024 regular season, two of which are against the Padres, who are playing exceptionally well right now. In other words, and even though the Dodgers have locked in a playoff berth, they could very well find themselves finishing the regular season in second place to the Padres, who also clinched a playoff berth with their win over the Dodgers on Tuesday.
Play Ball!
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This loss is all on Dave Roberts. He had a rested bullpen, yet allowed a rookie to struggle and give up 4 earned runs in four IP. It was Roberts decision for the fake stolen base at second that ended with Betts being tagged out. He continues to eschew sacrifice bunts to narrow leads, always looking for the big hit, when small ball will get the job done over 9 innings. In the ninth, with Rojas struggling to get the ball out of the infield, why not a sacrifice bunt that puts Smith at third, Kike at second? Sure, Padres will walk Ohtani but that brings Betts to bat and he is one the very best with RISP — followed by Freeman. Take ownership Roberts, this loss (along with others during the season) is on you.
One hundred percent on Roberts. Rojas is the best bunter on the team and a no-out suicide squeeze would have made it one out with the tying run on second base without setting up a double play and Ohtani at the plate … but everybody wants to be the hero – especially Roberts.
I’m gonna take some heat for this but I disagree with both of you gentlemen.
Freeman and Betts were 0 for 8. As you mentioned, Ohtani would’ve been walked.
Sac bunts are never a sure thing especially these days with few teams even practicing them anymore. These are the days of analytics and bunts have been frowned upon for years now. Suarez throws 100 MPH, and often up and in. Putting down a successful bunt is easier said than done. The chances of Rojas banging into a triple play were practically nil. In fact, it happens like once a year. Who could have guessed that would happen at that moment and time?
How can you possibly put this on Roberts? Plus, he put the bunt play on the first pitch and San Diego exposed their defense and they determined that it wasn’t the most optimal play to try and sacrifice.
What it comes down to is this. Machado made a great play. The ball was hit hard and at him. You just tip your cap to San Diego and move on. It sucks to lose like that but fluke plays happen. Terrible time for it to happen, but what are you going to do? Pinning it on Robert’s? Not fair at all.
I was expecting the Dodgers to leave the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th.