Dodgers' Scott Gets 17th Save as Closer Diaz Goes on Injured List
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The Los Angeles Dodgers held on for a narrow victory after reliever Tanner Scott recorded his 17th save of the season, pitching across two innings in a tense finish to the game.
Scott, who is not usually asked to record a multi-inning save, allowed one run that briefly cut the Dodgers' lead to a single point. He nonetheless closed out the game to preserve the win, in what was described as a precarious bullpen effort.
The unusual arrangement came about because Dodgers closer Alex Diaz was placed on the injured list with neck inflammation, forcing the team into a risky, patchwork use of its relief pitchers to protect the lead.
It marks the second time this season that Diaz has been sidelined by injury. His absence follows a rough stretch of performances in August, during which his ERA ballooned to 15.88, a figure far worse than expected for a closer of his standing.
Manager Dave Roberts appeared visibly relieved once the game concluded safely, having spent much of it managing an uncertain bullpen without his usual closer available.
Speaking about Diaz's placement on the injured list, Roberts suggested that the team may now have found an explanation for the pitcher's recent struggles, saying they had found clues to understand what had been happening with him. The neck issue may account for the drop in form that preceded his latest stint on the injured list.
With Diaz's recovery timeline unclear, the Dodgers are likely to continue relying on alternative arrangements in the closer role, with Scott among the pitchers expected to shoulder additional responsibility in high-pressure situations until Diaz is cleared to return.
Vocabulary7 words
- Dodgers
- a top professional baseball team based in Los Angeles
- reliever
- a pitcher who enters the game after the starter
- save
- an official record given to a pitcher who protects a win at the end of a game
- injured list
- a formal list of players unable to play due to injury
- inflammation
- swelling and pain, often from strain or irritation
- ERA
- a statistic showing the average number of runs a pitcher allows; lower is better
- Roberts
- the manager, or head coach, leading the Dodgers
Quiz
Answer key
1. He pitched across two innings 2. Neck inflammation 3. True
Discussion questions
- Why might a two-inning save be considered more difficult for a relief pitcher than a standard one-inning save?
- How can injuries sometimes explain a sudden decline in an athlete's performance, as suggested with Diaz's ERA?
- What challenges do managers like Roberts face when a team's usual closer is unavailable?
- Should teams rely on one main closer, or spread the responsibility among several relievers? Why?