The result was historic. The way it happened was all too familiar.
Never before, since interleague play began in 1997, had the Dodgers been swept in a six-game season series by the Angels.
Plenty of times in recent weeks, however, they’ve suffered the kind of fate that clinched that distinction Wednesday.
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Entering the eighth inning at Angel Stadium, the Dodgers were leading by one run, having once again failed to stretch a narrow lead. And without many trustworthy options in a recently scuffling bullpen, manager Dave Roberts had few cards to play.
First, he sent left-hander Justin Wrobleski out for a third inning of work. When he walked the first two batters, Roberts then turned to right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, who had pitched multiple innings the night before.
If you’ve been watching the Dodgers over the last couple of weeks, you can probably guess what happened next.
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Some bad luck: A potential inning-ending double-play grounder that took a deflection off Henriquez’s glove.
Bad execution: Henriquez throwing a center-cut fastball to Logan O’Hoppe that, even at 103.2 mph, was smoked into center.
And, in a scene that has repeated itself time and again during the Dodgers’ recent skid, plenty of hanging, defeated heads.
In a 6-5 loss that was decided on O’Hoppe’s go-ahead two-run single, the Dodgers not only suffered a second series sweep to the Angels this year — but also, for the first time since April 27, fell out of first place in the National League West.
“It just seems like right now,” Roberts said, “that’s the way things are going.”
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From nine games up in the division on July 3, to one game back of the San Diego Padres, who visit Dodger Stadium this weekend.
“We’re where we’re at. We put ourselves in this spot,” Roberts said. “But no, I wouldn’t have expected us to be in second place right now.”
Countless unforeseen trip wires have contributed to the Dodgers’ sudden tumble in the standings.
For most of July, they had the worst offense in the majors. Up until recently, their starting rotation was beset by injuries.
In the last week and a half, however, there’s been a common script almost too easy to predict.
The Dodgers take an early lead, but miss opportunities to extend it. Then they turn things over to their bullpen, and watch their patchwork relief corps inevitably begin to melt.
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It happened…