Dodgers seeking first-round sweep
But they don’t plan on taking a dip in Chase Field’s pool.
LOS ANGELES — The pool resides beyond the right-field fence at Chase Field, surrounded by deck chairs like an oasis in this desert. Fountains burble fresh streams of chlorinated water. A hot tub sits nearby. The water only goes 4 feet deep, which would explain the signs ringing the area.
“Danger,” the signs read. “No Jumping. Violators Will Be Ejected.”
In Game 3 of their National League division series against Arizona late Monday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers had a chance to breach stadium policy as they tried to finish off a first-round sweep.
Four years ago, when the Dodgers clinched the NL West title in the ballpark, the players celebrated by splashing about in the pool, a decision that drew the ire of the Diamondbacks. As the Dodgers came to town again Sunday evening, manager Dave Roberts issued a proclamation about the possibility of a reprise.
“That won’t happen,” Roberts said. “This is a completely different team. I think we have bigger goals than to jump into a swimming pool. Our guys clearly understand what this is about. We have no interest in jumping into a pool in right field.”
For weeks leading up to the playoffs, the Dodgers fixated on the concept of winning 11 postseason games, the necessary number to secure the organization’s first World Series championship since 1988. The first two victories did not come easy, as Arizona hit six home runs at Dodger Stadium, but the Dodgers responded by bullying the Diamondbacks pitching staff for 17 runs in 18 innings.
The performance heartened Roberts and his superiors, who had watched the Dodgers stumble through late August and early September. The first two games of this series felt like a rerun from the summer, when the team ran away with its fifth consecutive division title and created enough cushion to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“We’re doing what we were doing when we were doing really well, being the best team in baseball,” outfielder Enrique Hernandez said. “We’re starting rallies, not relying on the long ball.”
Monday night, they were to face former teammate Zack Greinke, whose performance in the NL wild-card game last week may have tipped the scales of this series toward the Dodgers. Because Greinke could not finish the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies, the Diamondbacks used Robbie Ray as a reliever. Ray threw 34 pitches and became unavailable for Game 1 against the Dodgers, who battered starter Taijuan Walker.
A day later, Ray lacked much command and fell victim to the Dodgers’ patience. Ray pitched into the fifth inning, but gave up four runs and was credited with the loss.