The heroes for the Dodgers on Sunday needed no introduction.
Fans have known them in blue for entire days.
Alek Thomas. Hunter Feduccia. And a refreshingly rebooted Kyle Tucker, the $60-million-per-year outfielder who for weeks was colder than dry ice.
On a sweltering afternoon when everyone in the seats was using programs to fan themselves, Blake Snell was fanning Pittsburgh Pirates — six strikeouts in six innings of work — and the bottom of the order played like the top of the lineup, providing ample offensive spark for a 4-0 victory that stretched the Dodgers’ winning streak to six games.
Thomas and Feduccia, both understudies to All-Stars, had back-to-back singles to right in the fourth inning to drive in a pair of runs — one of which was Tucker, who earlier reached base with his own single to right. That turned a familiar one-run game into a Sunday stroll and a consecutive sweep, first of Colorado then of Pittsburgh.
Read more: ‘I haven’t done my job.’ Edwin Díaz accepts low-leverage role with Dodgers — for now
In consecutive days, the Dodgers (80-51) got strong performances from starters Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal and Snell, who combined for 26 strikeouts, five walks and five earned runs in 19 innings.
That was a welcome breeze for the Dodgers, who earlier this month saw a losing streak grow to seven and eight of nine.
Thomas is replacing center fielder Andy Pages, who suffered a fractured left hand when he was hit by a pitch in Friday night’s win over Pittsburgh. The former Arizona Diamondback made a splash in his Dodgers debut Saturday, collecting a hit that drove in Tucker in what would become a 4-3 win over the Pirates (63-69).
Feduccia is one of a rotation of catchers filling in for Will Smith, who is working his way back from a neck injury.
Tucker has been one of the more compelling stories this season. He came into the weekend hitting .189 at Dodger Stadium, and he had gone 0 for 19 in his last homestand. That futility was starting to spill over to his defense, too, as he dropped a routine foul ball in front of a crowd whose patience had long since worn thin.
But on Friday night, there was a concerted effort by Dodgers fans to cheer him loudly every time he stepped to the plate, in hopes of lifting him out of the ditch. Three years ago, fans of the Philadelphia Phillies famously buoyed the spirits of underperforming shortstop Trea Turner by giving him the same kind of standing ovation.
Did it work for Tucker? He had the winning hit Saturday, a two-run single in the fifth inning.
“I haven’t had a hit in the last three homestands,” he said after the Saturday game. “I don’t keep up with stats like that. I just go out there and take the next [at-bat] and try to have a good quality AB.”
Díaz accepts Dodgers’ decision
Meanwhile, Edwin Díaz said before Sunday’s game that he understands the Dodgers’ decision to use him in lower-stake situations rather than immediately relying on him as a closer. The rationale is that strategy will help him rediscover his confidence.
“I know I haven’t done my job,” said Diaz, speaking to reporters at his locker before Sunday’s game. “If I had done my job, I would be in the ninth inning.”
He praised Tanner Scott, who has thrived in that role.
“He’s doing a great job,” Diaz said. “I’m really happy for him.”
Diaz, the team’s biggest offseason acquisition, had elbow surgery early in the season and was out from April to late July. His return wasn’t triumphant, as he had three blown saves and two more shaky outings in non-save situations.
Read more: Swanson: Struggling Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker simply needs to relax
After a game against the Colorado Rockies last week, he complained of a neck problem and was placed on the injured list. He has more than a week remaining before he returns.
Diaz said he underwent an MRI scan on his neck and nothing unusual was revealed. He’s working with coaches on making a small adjustment to his delivery.
“They showed me a couple videos from last year — my arm slot’s always a little low,” he said. “We’re working now to get it higher and more consistent in that position.”
The goal, naturally, is to make good on the expectations the Dodgers had for him when they signed him to a three-year, $69-million deal.
“That’s why they signed me here,” he said. “To be the closer.”
Pages update
The wait could be longer for Pages, who underwent a minor surgery to repair the fracture in his left hand and is expected to miss at least four weeks.
The team acquired Thomas, who’s strong defensively but has some big cleats to fill in replacing the offensive production of Pages.
“Andy’s shown he’s the complete player,” manager Dave Roberts said. “And so we kind of backfilled the defensive part of it. But to lose the bat, that’s a big loss.”
Thomas did his part at the plate in both weekend games, however.
Ohtani’s pitching timeline
Shohei Ohtani is on the mend from a left knee injury and could be ready to return to the pitching rotation soon.
Ohtani threw 30 pitches in a live batting-practice session Saturday at Dodger Stadium, marking his first time facing hitters since his last start on July 3. Roberts said that outing puts him in position to return to action soon.
The right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen session during the upcoming series at Atlanta, and the Dodgers will then decide whether he’s ready to rejoin the rotation or needs to throw more live batting practice. Roberts said there’s a possibility Ohtani could return as soon as the first week of September.
Last year, when Ohtani was returning from a second career Tommy John surgery, the Dodgers eased him into pitching slowly, starting with one inning and then adding an inning each appearance. Apparently, the team won’t be quite as cautious this time.
“I would say it’d be a little bit more aggressive,” Roberts said.
Asked if that could mean, theoretically, the Ohtani could build up to five innings by the end of the season, the manager said: “In theory, yes.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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