The way Dave Roberts framed it, Wednesday was a day for composure, not concern.
The Dodgers manager wasn’t looking for his players to give impassioned speeches, even in the wake of Tuesday’s gut-punch of a loss that ended on a triple play.
He didn’t fire up the clubhouse or hold some impromptu late-season meeting, even with the team’s division lead dwindling. Instead, in the second act of this week’s pivotal three-game series against the San Diego Padres, all Roberts desired was a clean, complete performance from his injury-plagued but ever-resilient squad.
“We play 162 games, and there are a lot of heartbreaking games,” Roberts said before first pitch. “And the thing about baseball players, you have to come back and win the next day.”
With a big helping hand from Shohei Ohtani and a lights-out bullpen, that’s exactly what the Dodgers did.
Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Padres didn’t clinch the National League West crown for the Dodgers. But with four games to go in the regular season, and their division lead back up to three games, they can get the champagne bottles and plastic wrap ready.
Read more: Shohei Ohtani had only 16 stolen bases in June. Then he made it ‘a really special season’
At yet another juncture where their place atop the standings seemed to be teetering, the Dodgers once again found a way to steady their season. And if they beat the Padres (91-67) again Thursday night, or win at least twice in their final regular-season series in Colorado this weekend, they’ll claim their 11th division title in the last 12 years.
“It was big to bounce back after last night,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “I thought we played with a little bit more energy.”
The main source of electricity came from Ohtani, who continued his torrid late-season run with the latest confirmation of his MVP candidacy. The slugger not only went two for three with a double, a walk, two RBIs and his 56th stolen base, but he played a key role in each of the team’s three scoring rallies as well, most notably a single in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie.
“I think the excitement of the fans and the spirit of the team are high,” Ohtani said in Japanese, after improving to 19 for his last 34 during an incredible eight-game hitting streak. “I think those are ingredients to heighten focus.”
