Dodgers avoid sweep, pull away to win at Houston – San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, retires starting pitcher River Ryan (77) during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

HOUSTON – Not yet. But almost.

On Saturday night, rookie starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski blanked the pitcher until the sixth inning. It was the first time he had pitched into the sixth inning in a major league game, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled him after 82 pitches with two outs and Yainer Diaz coming on for the Astros.

Roberts himself later admitted that the game had hinged on that decision. The Dodgers’ bullpen blew a five-run lead and they lost.

Just change a few details. On Sunday afternoon, it was rookie starting pitcher River Ryan who blanked the pitcher until the sixth inning. It was only the second time he had pitched as a professional until the sixth inning (two of his major league starts) and he had already surpassed his career high in pitches, with two outs and Diaz coming in.

Roberts did it again, replacing Ryan with left-handed reliever Alex Vesia, who promptly gave up a two-run home run to Diaz, cutting the lead to one run. This time, however, it was all over. The Dodgers added more runs and the bullpen made good on that lead in a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros, avoiding a three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park.

“He was going from batter to batter,” Roberts said of his sixth-inning decision. “Last time was the first time he’d ever started the sixth inning and you know the stress is greater in the major leagues than the minor leagues. You can’t quantify it. I wanted to keep a close eye on him and I thought it was a good time.”

Roberts acknowledged there was a sense of “déjà vu” after Saturday’s game revolved around the same decision in the sixth inning.

“Yes, but the fact is I have to do what I think is the right thing to do, which is first and foremost protect the player and then try to win a game,” he said. “It doesn’t always work, but again, what he did, if I pushed him any further than that, I think it would have been irresponsible.”

Ryan ended up throwing 91 balls when he had never thrown more than 75 as a professional, and started his season two months late because of shoulder problems. But he was ready to keep going.

“I felt good. I was a little tired, but other than that, my body felt good, my shoulders felt good,” Ryan said. “I was begging the doctor to let me play another guy, but I threw too many pitches.”

In a matchup of rookie pitchers, neither Ryan nor Astros starting pitcher Spencer Arrighetti allowed a hit through the first four innings.

Arrighetti handcuffed the Dodgers, striking out seven of the first 11 batters he faced. James Outman broke through with a solo home run in the fifth and Gavin Lux hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, giving Ryan a 3-0 lead.

“It’s a unique fastball,” Lux said of Arrighetti. “It’s kind of a low (arm) slot, with a little bit of a push up. It hits 95-96 (mph). It takes a few tries to get used to it. I think we finally got to it a little bit and made some adjustments.”

Ryan didn’t allow his first hit until Jon Singleton’s double in the top of the fifth inning. Ryan left him at third base, forcing Jake Meyers to strike out and retiring Victor Caratini and Joey Loperfido.

Before the game, Roberts acknowledged that Ryan “should have more room (to go deeper into the game) because of the (bullpen) coverage that we don’t have for today’s game.” Only three relievers were available – Alex Vesia, Joe Kelly and Brent Honeywell Jr. – with Ryan Yarbrough only in case of emergency.

Spreading that blanket over the final four innings was going to be a challenge. When Ryan gave up another double in the top of the sixth, Roberts had to start thinking about how to spread a queen-size bed sheet over a king-size bed.

As Vesia warmed up, Roberts kept Ryan on the field long enough to face the Astros’ most dangerous hitters for a third time. After Jose Altuve’s double, Ryan managed to send Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez on flies to center field.