Los Angeles Dodgers: Key decision points in Game Seven
By Bill Felber
When Counsell brought in Josh Hader to start the third inning, Roberts responded by sitting down left-fielder Joc Pederson in favor of a right-handed pinch hitter, Kike Hernandez. Given that the Dodgers led at the time and Hernandez was leading off the inning, it seemed like an odd time to remove a threat of Pederson’s merit – he did after all hit 25 regular season home runs.
Hader dispatched Hernandez on three pitches, making the move look that much more puzzling. It initiated three solid innings on the mound for Milwaukee’s relief idol, who worked through the fifth, allowing just one hit and one walk before being removed for a pinch hitter.
Roberts’ move did, however, have a serendipitous long-term outcome for the Dodgers. In the bottom of the third, Hernandez went to second base and erstwhile second baseman Chris Taylor, a defensive upgrade, replaced Pederson in left.
The Dodgers still led 2-1 in the fifth when Lorenzo Cain doubled and Christian Yelich sent a line drive into the gap in left-center. Taylor sprinted over and made a diving catch that not only denied Milwaukee the game’s tying run and kept the lead run out of scoring position but ended the inning.
The Brewers never again came close to tying the game or taking the lead.