A lot to watch
Dodgers fans turn Chavez Ravine into a drive- in for NLCS.
Huddled with his little sister in the trunk space of his SUV, Erik Garcia looked out over a parking lot at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday afternoon and preened at the primo spot he had acquired.
Garcia was one of roughly 300 drivers to buy a $ 75 ticket to the Dodgers’ drive- in watch party for Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. He arrived at the gates about two hours before f irst pitch, eager to claim a parking space near the 60- foot screen set up in the center of Lot 2.
For Garcia, the opportunity to watch the team he has spent the last 19 years cheering on was too enticing to pass up — even if he all could do was sit in the back of his vehicle, with 7- year- old Melissa and a spread of pizza, chips and soda.
“It’s a really cool experience,” Garcia said.
The spread of COVID- 19 has robbed sports fans around the globe of the chance to watch their teams play up close. While NFL and college football teams have welcomed a limited number of fans to games for about a month, Major League Baseball took a slower approach. The Dodgers’ NLCS games in Arlington, Texas, where they are playing the Atlanta Braves this week for a spot in the World Series, are the first MLB games attended by the public since March.
Dodger Stadium isn’t able to host fans. But its massive parking lots are the ideal setting for a drive- in, even on a day when the game- time temperature was 93 degrees and many cars were left running to utilize the air- conditioning.
Restrictions might have made it impossible for attendees to make friends with strangers, but the camaraderie seemed to be enough. A spirited Dodgers ninth- inning rally fell just short, and the Braves won 8- 7.
“It’s the first time that we were able to be amongst other Dodger fans,” said Liliana Aguilar, who made the trek from the Inland Empire with her family of four Monday night. “We’ve been watching the season at home. Just the camaraderie of at least being among other fans [ was nice].
“It was a way of trying to feel normal.”
Urías gets the nod
Julio Urías will start Game 3 for the Dodgers on Wednesday, the team announced.
It will be the left- handed pitcher’s f irst start of the postseason and third appearances of these playoffs. In two relief outings in the f irst two rounds, Urías gave up a single unearned run over eight total innings while striking out 11.
The rotation had to be shaken up when Clayton Kershaw couldn’t make the start in Game 2 because of back spasms.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon before the team’s announcement that Urías will start Game 3, manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s injury had made the Dodgers reconsider Urías’ swingman role out of the bullpen.
Wednesday will be Urías’ f irst postseason start since Game 4 of the 2016 NLCS, when he gave up four runs in 32⁄ innings to the Chicago
3 Cubs. This regular season, he went 3- 0 with a 3.27 earned- run average in 11 appearances ( 10 starts).
The Dodgers have not said who will start any of the games later in the series, though Kershaw could be available as soon as Game 4 and Walker Buehler could pitch on normal rest in Game 6.
Him again?
Braves closer Mark Melancon caught a home run ball off the bat of Ozzie Albies in the ninth inning for the second straight game Tuesday, his running catch in the bullpen of the second baseman’s solo shot in Game 2 coming on the heels of his stationary catch of Albies’ two- run shot on the bullpen mound in Game 1.
“Yeah, I’ve noticed, he’s had two really good catches the last two nights,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I guess he’s playing the card. He’s well- positioned. He knows where to play Ozzie.”
Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Buck noted that Melancon, who got AJ Pollock to ground out to end the game with the tying run on third, “has caught more home runs [ two] than he’s allowed [ one] this season.”
Braves’ Duvall done
The Braves will have to make do without one of their most powerful bats for the rest of the series. Outfielder Adam Duvall was removed from the NLCS roster Tuesday after straining his left oblique muscle in the opener.
Duvall was a critical part of the Braves’ potent lineup. He hit 16 homers and drove in 33 runs in the regular season. He was much quieter in the postseason, held to two for 20 at the plate.
The Braves will rely on rookie Cristian Pache, a 21year- old who had made one MLB start before Tuesday, to cover ground in the roomy Globe Life Field outfield in the wake of Duvall’s injury.
Duvall was replaced on the roster by Johan Camargo. A switch- hitting infielder, he batted .200 ( 24 for 120) in the regular season.
Lombard interviews with Tigers
George Lombard recently interviewed for the Detroit Tigers’ manager vacancy, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, the second straight offseason the Dodgers’ f irst base coach has interviewed for a managerial opening. Last year, the Pirates considered him for their opening before naming Derek Shelton to the position.
“George is going to be a major league manager,” Roberts said of Lombard, a former six- year big leaguer who joined the Dodgers’ staff before the 2016 season.
“I think his understanding of baseball, understanding of the player, the ability to communicate with players, the idea to continue to grow in information with the baseball ops, all that stuff he’s open to and willing and eager. He’s very positive. I have no doubt in my mind he’ll be a major league manager, whether it’s sooner or later.”