Dave Roberts finds no reason to be suspicious about Dodgers’ loss to Rockies

Dodgers Face Back-to-Back Losses Against Rockies

DENVER – The Dodgers experienced a tough weekend, losing two consecutive games to the Colorado Rockies.

One of those games sparked an interesting conversation.

During Saturday’s match, the Rockies surprised Dodgers reliever Will Klein with an aggressive approach, which led to a crucial two-run sixth inning. After the game, catcher Dalton Rushing admitted he felt a bit “suspicious” about that inning.

“I think they had a solid game plan,” said Rushing, who is in his second year as a backup catcher. “And, I might have unintentionally helped with my pitch calls. It’s a bit odd how some batters aggressively hit the first pitch they see. So that raised some questions, but I’ll take responsibility.”

However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quickly moved to downplay any potential controversy the following afternoon.

When asked about Rushing’s concerns, he stated, “I saw some bad curveballs. So, I don’t think there was anything suspicious; just some poor pitches.”

In hindsight, Roberts’ explanation feels more plausible than Rushing’s initial thoughts.

In that pivotal sixth inning, the Rockies managed a double, a single, and then a two-run double against Klein, which turned the tide for a 4-3 win. Notably, all three pitches Klein threw during that inning were sliders or sweepers that stayed within the strike zone.

Only Ezequiel Tovar connected with his first-pitch swing, resulting in a single. Two batters, including Hunter Goodman and Troy Johnston, also hit Klein’s pitches, the latter driving in two runs with a double.

Roberts later commented on Klein’s performance, saying, “His sweeper and spin just weren’t working tonight. Some hits were just poor execution. I can’t say how much he felt it out there, but he wasn’t sharp overall.”

Of course, Klein wasn’t the only pitcher struggling in this series at Coors Field.

On Sunday, Blake Treinen faced his own difficulties in the seventh inning. He allowed four hits in a row, including a two-run homer that came from the first batter. All four batters hit his signature sweeper, with three finding their mark and two right down the middle.

Reflecting on his performance, Treinen mentioned, “I certainly didn’t pitch well today. I’ve had a good run this season, so I’m not going to dwell on this one outing.” He acknowledged, “Colorado is a tough place to play.”