Ah! Manager Dave Roberts of the LAD → 'Former KIA pitcher' harsh substitution 'Stripped with just one out remaining...'

*This content was translated by AI.

Eric Lau (31), a former pitcher for the KIA Tigers, was left with just one out remaining in the victory requirement before reluctantly leaving the mound.

The Dodgers secured a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in an away game at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, on the 3rd (Korean time) in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season.

With this win, the Dodgers avenged their 1-4 loss from the previous day (the 2nd). The Dodgers improved their record to 39 wins and 22 losses, leading the National League West Division. Additionally, the Dodgers pulled six games ahead of the second-place San Diego Padres (32 wins, 27 losses) in the same division. Meanwhile, Arizona finished with 32 wins and 28 losses, securing third place in the division.

For this game, the Dodgers set their starting lineup in the following order: Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Andy Pages (center fielder), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Ryan Ward (left fielder), Dalton Rushing (catcher), and Alex Freeland (second baseman).

In response, Arizona started with Mike Soroka. Their batting order was set as follows: Ketel Marte (second baseman), Corbin Carroll (right fielder), Gabriel Moreno (catcher), Nolan Arenado (third baseman), Ryan Woldschmidt (left fielder), Ildemaro Vargas (first baseman), Jose Fernandez (shortstop), Jorge Barosa (center fielder), and Tommy Troy (designated hitter).

The Dodgers' starting pitcher for this game was Lau, familiar to fans of the KBO League. Lau joined KIA as a replacement foreign pitcher in August 2024. He appeared in seven games, recording two wins, two losses, and an ERA of 4.93, contributing significantly to KIA's Korean Series championship. After returning to the United States, he signed a minor league contract with Toronto and posted an impressive record of nine wins, two losses, and an ERA of 3.18 in 28 games (15 starts) during the 2025 season.

Last month, Lau moved to the Dodgers, the team he faced in last year's World Series. The Dodgers acquired him by paying cash to Toronto. Before joining the Dodgers, Lau had appeared in eight games (six starts) this season with a record of one win, five losses, and an ERA of 6.69. The Dodgers recently lost Blake Snell due to an elbow injury and Tyler Glasnow due to a back injury.

Lau pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing five hits (including one home run), issuing one walk, striking out one batter, and surrendering two runs, leaving the mound without a decision.

The Dodgers took an early lead, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to seize control against Arizona. Ohtani, leading off, hit a double off Soroka's third cutter, sending it against the right-field wall. Freeman then followed with a two-run home run over the fence, making the score 2-0.

Ohtani's bat was equally fierce in the second inning. With one out and runners on first and second, Ohtani targeted the middle of the plate on Soroka's first pitch, hitting a two-run triple to extend the lead to 4-0.

Arizona fought back. In the third inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Carroll hit a solo home run over the left-field wall. The fifth inning was the most disappointing for Lau. Arizona capitalized on a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs after Barosa's hit to center-left field and Troy's single to center. Marte then scored a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. Lau struck out Carroll, but his outing ended there. Facing the strong hitter Moreno, manager Roberts made a move. With only one out remaining in the victory requirement, the substitution felt somewhat harsh for Lau. Ultimately, the reliever Blake Traynen walked Moreno but escaped the scoring threat by getting Arenado out with a straight line drive to left field.

The Dodgers added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out and runners on first and third, Andy Pages hit a sacrifice fly, and Betts hit a single to drive in a run, extending the lead to 6-1. The Dodgers immediately surrendered three runs in the bottom of the seventh but held on. The Dodgers ultimately secured a thrilling one-run victory, 6-5. Ohtani had an outstanding game, going 2-for-4 with one walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Ohtani's season batting average is now 0.293, and his OPS (on-base plus slugging) stands at 0.927.

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*This content was translated by AI.