MILWAUKEE — To counter the Brewers bullpenning, the Dodgers had to make a major adjustment. The big swings were not working. They realized they had to counterpunch after falling behind in the series.
In many ways, they faced the same issues as the Yankees in their home run-or-nothing offense.
“We’ve shortened up at the plate, taking what they are giving us,” Dodgers third-base coach Chris Woodward told The Post. “It’s a big field out there.”
Forget the home runs and go to more of a contact approach. That old-school style has the Dodgers one win away from returning to the World Series, which they haven’t won since 1988. Up 3-1 in the NLCS, a win Friday night at Miller Park does the trick.
Up and down the Dodgers lineup, the emphasis has been on driving the ball into the gaps instead of driving the ball over the fence. The Dodgers have not hit any home runs the past two games of the NLCS, but they’ve won both games.
“Their bullpen is really good,” said Yasiel Puig, who came off the bench to pick up two hits in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win over the Brewers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers also think they can make the Brewers’ shift work for them. When was the last time you heard that? The Dodgers’ depth is helping to lead the way. Come Friday night, it once again will be about using every available piece.
“We’re trying to win the World Series, you have to leave your ego at the door,’’ Joc Pederson explained. “We’ve got runners on this whole series and we just weren’t able to come through.’’
The Game 3 loss was a wake-up call that something had to change. In that 4-0 loss at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers were 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The big swings were becoming big strikeouts. In that game, the Dodgers struck out 14 times.
Game 4 wasn’t much better. The Dodgers were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but that second hit was a big one as Cody Bellinger shortened up and drove a game-winning single to right that scored Manny Machado.
“I’m really proud of the adjustments Cody has made,” Woodward said.
Then in Game 5, it came together as Austin Barnes, Justin Turner, Bellinger and Max Muncy came through.
“We got some huge hits, Max, J.T., Belly, Austin,’’ Pederson said. “We just didn’t get those hits before. This shows you have to grind it out to win a game. Steal a base, have a good ball-in-the-dirt read, a walk, just keep the pressure on those pitchers.”
That is what October is about.
“Absolutely,” Pederson said. “One thing will win or lose you a game. There were times we didn’t get the job done and we lost because we didn’t give our bullpen runs. You have to find a way to win.”
The Dodgers stole three bases in Game 5, and the plan is to keep the pressure on the Brewers pitchers.
The October game is much different than the showcase-slugging game of summer.
The Yankees learned that the hard way, losing in four games to the multi-dimensional Red Sox in the ALDS. In their three losses, the Yankees went 2-for-16 with RISP. They never made the hitting adjustments the Dodgers have made.
Adjustments don’t just happen. The work has to be honed. They have to be worked on throughout the year. Dave Roberts was quick to credit his coaches.
“Our hitting coaches do such a great job of trying to ingrain in our guys and make it land as far as shortening up and taking what they give you,” Roberts said of Turner Ward & Co. “For it to play out like that and Cody, especially, to shorten up on the bat. Those are big hits. Even Yasiel not coming off the ball and staying through the middle. J.T., Austin, Muncy, to stay on that ball away and give us a lead. Those are big things.
“It’s always a process. You’re always trying to get better. But for us to see that and for those guys to get rewarded I think is encouraging.”
That winning approach reinforces success.
Source: Read Full Article