This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.<\/p>\n
See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred<\/p>\n
The second pitch Edwin D\u00edaz threw Thursday night sailed above the strike zone, at about eye-height on Milwaukee\u2019s William Contreras. It was an early indicator that the Dodgers closer was about to have a brutal ninth inning.<\/p>\n
By the end of his third blown save in four appearances, even D\u00edaz wasn\u2019t sure what his role would be going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I\u2019ve just got to see what they want to do,\u201d he said after the Dodgers\u2019 5-4 loss to the Brewers. \u201cI want to do the best thing for the team. At the end of the day, if they give me the ball in the ninth I will try to do my job. If they give me the ball in another inning, I will try to do my job. Got to get better, be consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manager Dave Roberts, however, as he looked at the state of his bullpen, wasn\u2019t ready to take the closer title from D\u00edaz.<\/p>\n
\u201cGive me another option,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cTo be quite honest, none of those guys really are throwing the baseball great. So that\u2019s just kind of the way it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Walter\u2019s sale of the Lakers, which valued the organization at $12.5 billion, was reportedly motivated by the spiraling price for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
The series opener between the Dodgers and Brewers, two of the top teams in the National League, saw Roki Sasaki give up just two runs over six innings despite battling command issues. It included a record-setting go-ahead home run from Max Muncy, his 131st at Dodger Stadium, breaking a tie with Eric Karros for the most all-time at Chavez Ravine.<\/p>\n
Then D\u00edaz, who has been working through an evolving set of issues since returning from the injured list (arthroscopic elbow surgery) a couple of weeks ago, took over with a two-run lead. And the game went sideways.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers (73-49) fell two games back of the Brewers (75-47) and half a game behind the Braves (73-48).<\/p>\n
\u201cA loss is a loss, but there\u2019s certain losses that are more costly,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cAnd when you use five relievers and you lose a game, that\u2019s costly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though D\u00edaz\u2019s command issues flared early, he struck out Contreras to begin the inning. Then he gave up four consecutive singles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think my fastball command today \u2014 I was throwing strikes, but right in the middle,\u201d D\u00edaz said. \u201cEvery big league hitter can hit it right in the middle, [even if you] throw 200 miles an hour. I\u2019ve got to get better at that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Milwaukee\u2019s Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton both hit center-cut fastballs to put runners on the corners for the top of the order.<\/p>\n