Hill has been spectacular for the Dodgers when able to pitch.
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Executing the biggest stolen base in Red Sox history was easy for Dave Roberts compared to what he faced Saturday night.
As cruel as it may sound, the Los Angeles Dodgers probably made the right decision by not allowing Rich Hill to go for the complete ideal game, instead pulling the pitcher after 7 innings in which he didn’t allow a walk or a hit, even if the decision left Hill a bit frustrated, or his manager regretful.
Reasonable folks can see both sides of the argument here.
Hill, 35, struck out nine and threw 89 pitches before being taken out. Hill was making just his third start for the Dodgers after spending six weeks on the disabled list because of blister issues. With a combined ideal game four outs away, Jeff Francoeur singled to left field off the tip of shortstop Corey Seager’s glove with reliever Joe Blanton on the mound. Hill, 36, is unlikely to ever be six outs away again.
After the game, Hill said he understood his manager’s rationale. It would have been his first career complete game shutout in the Majors — he had recorded five complete games and three shutouts during his minor league stint.
Two other notes worth knowing here: 1. The Dodgers went on to win 5-0, but reliever Joe Blanton allowed a hit in the eighth to spoil the flawless game bid, and Hill didn’t get a chance to make history.
In Washington, Gio Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings for the NL East-leading Nationals, and Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run. So at least he’s ideal in that regard.
“Obviously, I didn’t want to come out of the game”, Hill said. The Dodgers never did solve Urena, losing 3-0 at Marlins Park. Puig sprinted and as he approached the warning track dived toward the wall to make the catch. The Dodgers acquired him on August 1 from the Oakland A’s, while he was still on the DL.
Joc Pederson made a sliding and diving catch on a drive to centre by Ozuna in the second. In three starts for Los Angeles, Hill has tossed 21 innings, has yet to allow a run, and only allowed one hit over his last two starts (13 innings). Prado, who scored two runs, is hitting.310 this season. The Marlins won the last game 4-1, and Miami leads the series 1-0. He pulled his flawless starter for Joe Blanton, who served up a two-out hit to Jeff Francoeur.
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Roberts said the Dodgers’ plan was to attack Urena early, a strategy that had something to do with Bill Miller, Sunday’s plate umpire.
