No offense, no win.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 2-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in game two of the best-of-five Major League Baseball 2023 Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Tuesday. The Dodgers were in danger of losing the series sweep.

Despite a poor outing from starter Bobby Miller (1⅔ innings, four hits, two walks, three runs), the Dodgers bullpen held the Arizona offense to a minimum. Only Ryan Brauer (2⅔ innings, one run, one hit, no walks, three strikeouts) gave up a run. Bruce DeGraterol, Joe Kelly, and Evan Phillips also did not allow a run in the clutch.

It was the “sweet potato bats” that lost the game. The Dodgers bats remained silent throughout the game. That’s not to say they didn’t have chances. They had chances to score in the final innings, but they kept kicking the can down the road.

The silence of MVP duo Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts was particularly galling. Betts hung his head in shame after going 0-for-4, while Freeman went 1-for-4, but with less nutritional value. An infield hit in the first inning was all he had. Freeman was also unable to come through when it counted.

Trailing 1-3 in the fifth inning, Betts came to the plate with runners on first and second. With a potential tying run on base, Betts hit a grounder to shortstop. A fielder’s choice advanced Betts, and with runners on second and third, Freeman struck out on a full count to end the threat.

It was the same in the seventh inning, when they were down 2-4. Betts led off and reached on a throwing error. But Freeman followed with a grounder to second base, leading to a double play. Betts and Freeman were unable to prevent the Dodgers from losing.메이저사이트

Betts has had one of the best seasons of his career. In 152 games, he hit .307 (179-for-584) with 39 home runs, 107 RBIs, a .408 on-base percentage, a .579 slugging percentage, and a .987 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage), making him a frontrunner for National League MVP. But he hasn’t gotten a hit in the postseason this year, going 1-for-7 with one walk and one run scored in two games.

The same goes for Freeman. After batting .331 (211-for-637) with 29 home runs and 102 RBIs in 161 games with a .410 on-base percentage, .567 slugging percentage, and .977 OPS, he’s struggled in the postseason, going 1-for-6 with a double, two walks, one run scored, and a .167 batting average in two games.

The Dodgers have a low mound height, so they must rely on the power of their offense to overcome the disadvantage. Betts and Freeman are supposed to lead the offense, but they haven’t done much to help. If the Dodgers’ bats don’t explode, if Betts and Freeman can’t hit, they won’t win.