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SPORTS Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2017
Dodgers’ dominant

bullpen is baffling

foes in NL playoffs

By GREG BEACHAM where in the bullpen — not
AP Sports Writer just Jansen, who remains
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A year among the top closers in
ago, Dodgers manager baseball. Jansen has three
Dave Roberts was attempt- saves, a victory and 10
ing to get through the late strikeouts in six innings, ap-
innings of tight playoff pearing in all five games
games with long appear- and allowing just one un-
ances by closer Kenley earned run.
Jansen, a hodgepodge of Jansen is still getting multi-
veteran relievers and one ple-inning saves for Roberts.
desperate bailout from This year, it’s out of desire
ace Clayton Kershaw. rather than utter necessity.
One October later, Los “We’ve got a really good
Angeles’ bullpen is down- bullpen in the postseason,”
right dominant as the team Jansen said. “I’m not just
steamrolls toward the World trying to be a hero, but Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws to a Chicago Cubs batter
Series. After excelling in the whatever the team needs during the eighth inning of Game 1 of baseball’s National League Championship Series
unbeaten Dodgers’ three- me to do, and whatever in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.
game NL Division Series Doc (Roberts) wants me to Associated Press
sweep of Arizona, those re- do, I’m going to be ready on the hand in the ninth in- innovative use of his pitch- the imposing Morrow has
lievers have retired 24 of 25 to put myself in that posi- ning of Game 2. The closer ing staff last season, but he appeared in all five games
batters without allowing a tion to win ballgames.” calmly got two more outs has said he doesn’t want to this month, yielding only
hit or a run in the NL Cham- The Dodgers won 104 to set the stage for Justin use Kershaw as a reliever one run to Arizona.
pionship Series against the games in the regular sea- Turner’s walk-off homer. this October, preferring to The Dodgers added two
Chicago Cubs. son with a deep lineup and “I’ve never had a bad feel- keep his recently injured key relievers in midseason
The bullpen hasn’t allowed a talent-packed rotation, ing with our bullpen be- ace on a regular schedule. trades, picking up eighth-
a hit in its last 8 2/3 innings but their bullpen has been fore, but I think at the same So far, he hasn’t even been inning setup man Tony
of work overall, giving the outstanding all year long, time we’re realizing that it’s tempted. Watson and left-hander
Dodgers extraordinary faith easily leading the NL with a one of our strengths of our Last season’s bullpen got Tony Cingrani. Both settled
in their relievers heading 3.38 ERA. team,” Kershaw said after problematic postseason in quickly with the Dodgers,
into Wrigley Field for Game In October, the relievers the bullpen backed him appearances from Grant and they’ve combined to
3 on Tuesday night. have been even better with four perfect innings in Dayton, who is out for the yield only two runs in seven
“They’re just executing — particularly against the the Dodgers’ Game 1 vic- season with an elbow in- postseason appearances.
pitches, and they’re ready Cubs, who are still waiting tory over Chicago on Sat- jury, and Joe Blanton, now And this month, the bullpen
when called upon, and for their first hit against the urday. “You still want to go with Washington. Pedro got Kenta Maeda, the Jap-
they’re competing,” Rob- group. After starter Rich Hill as deep as you can in the Baez, the hardworking anese right-hander who
erts said after his bullpen was pulled for a pinch hitter game, but I guess handing right-hander who has been went 13-6 with a 4.22 ERA in
threw four hitless innings in in the fifth inning of Game the ball off to those guys a target of Dodgers fans’ 25 starts this season.
Los Angeles’ 4-1 victory in 2, first-year Dodgers right- makes it a little easier.” ire for years, was left off the With no spot for him in the
Game 2 Sunday night. “It’s hander Brandon Morrow Last year, the Dodgers NLCS roster. postseason rotation, Mae-
a close-knit group down faced six Cubs and retired didn’t have the same array Ross Stripling also had trou- da willingly took a role as
there. ... Those guys know them all, needing only 18 of bullpen talent. They re- ble last October, but he is the bullpen’s specialist
exactly what they want to pitches. lied heavily on Jansen, Ker- still in the Dodgers’ bull- against right-handed bat-
do, and they’re going out The Cubs got their only shaw and Roberts’ creativ- pen, although he has yet ters. He has been domi-
there and executing.” baserunner of the series ity, with some nights work- to pitch in this postseason. nant, retiring all nine bat-
The Dodgers’ domina- against the bullpen when ing out better than others. Josh Fields is back and bet- ters he has faced in three
tion has come from every- Jansen hit Anthony Rizzo Roberts was praised for his ter than last season, while innings of work. q

Brewers: Injured minor leaguer

recovering after HBP to chest

By The Associated Press a Rookie League game Stearns says Mendez still
Milwaukee Brewers mi- on Aug. 26 in Tempe, Ari- has a long way to go with
nor leaguer Julio Mendez zona. rehab, though his prog-
has made what the team General manager David ress has been very en-
calls a “remarkable re- Stearns said Monday that couraging.
covery” from a serious in- Mendez has taken signifi- Mendez is recovering in
jury after being hit in the cant steps over the last a hospital in his home
chest by a pitch. few weeks to the point country of Venezuela. He
Mendez was on life sup- where he is performing was moved about three
port for more than three many daily activities with weeks ago at his family’s
weeks after getting hit in little assistance. request.q