The Los Angeles Dodgers experienced a walk-off defeat in the ninth inning, prolonging their losing streak to seven games.
The Dodgers lost 3–4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a road game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on August 8 (Korean time). Edwin Díaz (32), the “top reliever” who came back from a three-month injury layoff, couldn’t get another victory. Díaz was ahead 3–2 when he entered the bottom of the ninth inning, walked the first batter, Max Kepler, and then gave up a walk-off two-run home run to rookie Ryan Walden with one out and a runner on second base. The 145 km/h slider he threw on a 2–2 count moved into the middle of the strike zone.
Díaz’s ERA climbed to 11.00 following his second blown save of the season. The Dodgers, with a record of 69 wins and 47 losses, faced their seventh straight loss—their longest slump in about 13 months since last July. They had previously lost three-game series against the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs before losing the first game against Arizona.
Díaz signed a three-year, $69 million contract (around 97 billion South Korean won) before this season began. His yearly average of $23 million is the highest in history for a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Nevertheless, he had surgery in April to remove loose bodies from his right elbow and was out for roughly three months. Since coming back on July 30, he has given up six hits, including two home runs, and two walks over four innings in four games, allowing four earned runs.
His fastball speed has returned to normal. His average fastball velocity on the day was 156.6 km/h, nearly matching last season’s average of 156.4 km/h. The problem was his slider, which he relies on most. All three sliders he threw to Kepler were hit for balls, and the last pitch to Walden went into the middle, leading to a walk-off home run.
After the match, Díaz remarked, “My fastball was solid, but the slider was an issue. I aimed to throw it correctly, but it turned out to be a poor pitch. I’m a major-league pitcher. I must deliver better performances.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is encountering increasing worries. When asked about the potential of altering Díaz’s position, he stated, “Honestly, we need to consider other possibilities,” yet he also mentioned, “Other pitchers aren’t doing particularly well either. At this moment, there isn’t a clear substitute.” The Dodgers’ relief pitching has been underperforming with an ERA exceeding 5.00 since the beginning of last month.
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