Corey Seager hit a pair of home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers slugged four total against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday night, but it was not enough to avoid their first series loss of the season. Seager was in position to play the role of walk-off hero, only to be the final out.
He was put in position to potentially tie or give the Dodgers yet another series win thanks to Edwin Rios and Gavin Lux each keeping the ninth inning alive with a two-out walk. Lux’s plate appearance as particularly impressive as he battled Daniel Bard for 10 pitches.
After Seager stranded runners at first and second base, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts waited for Lux by the dugout steps. “I was very pleased. I understand you never like losing a game or series, but I just think there were a lot of good things in that game,” Roberts said after the 7-6 loss.
“Gavin’s last at-bat was one of the highlights. Muncy had an at-bat earlier int he game, I thought was a highlight. I thought Eddie’s was a fantastic at-bat to give Corey a chance. We played 27 outs, and that’s something I’m very, very happy with.”
This season has been a rough time for Lux, once a 2020 National League Rookie of the Year favorite. He reported late to Summer Camp for an undisclosed reason and was optioned to the team’s alternate training site at USC just before Opening Day.
Lux didn’t join the Dodgers until Aug. 27, as the 29th player for the second game of a doubleheader. He was recalled two days later and has been given regular opportunities to start at second base against right-handed pitching.
Success has been hard to come by as he’s a mere 4-for-27 with two doubles, four walks and eight strikeouts in eight games. Lux hit leadoff in the series finale against the Rockies as Mookie Betts was given a night off. He drew the one walk but was hitless and left one runner on base in four at-bats.
Lux dismisses pressure
As a heralded prospect in the Dodgers organization, Lux has faced lofty expectations for several years. However, he dismissed the idea that has led to any extra pressure — and thus adversely impacted his play this season.
“I think whenever you’re expected to do good and you come up, you’re expected to perform. I think everyone is held to that standard here,” he acknowledged. “When you’re ready, you’re ready, and you come up to help the team win.
“I saw that last year, so coming into this year I knew what to expect. So I don’t think there’s any added pressure. I think it’s just getting comfortable and going and playing. Baseball is baseball at the end of the day.”
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