LATIMES.COM/SPORTS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019D5
BASEBALL
Others contributed to the chorus.
The message was clear.
Freese and Friedman spoke
that night. They discovered a deep
mutual interest in a reunion and de-
cided to hasten the process. It was
Sunday. By the end of the week, the
sides agreed to a one-year, $4.5-mil-
lion contract plus a $500,000 buy-
out. The Dodgers saved $1 million.
Freese was thrilled.
“I came back because this was
everything I wanted to be a part of,”
Freese said. “And it was worth an-
other year to get up for 180 games
and just get after it.”
Freese, 36, embodies the kind of
player the Dodgers covet. He is
open to unconventional use and
produces when called upon. He has
excelled in his platoon role since the
Dodgers acquired him from the
Pittsburgh Pirates right before the
Sept. 1 waiver trade deadline last
year.
And in just two months last sea-
son, he became a revered team-
mate, emerging as a soft-spoken
clubhouse leader. Younger Dodgers
picked his brain, digging into his
steep experiences on and off the
field, which include battling de-
pression and alcohol abuse. They
observed his preparation, how he
always seemed prepared to inflict
damage in his limited opportuni-
ties. He was a seamless fit.
“The ability to be that presence
in the clubhouse, have the pedigree
that he has, is huge,” Turner said.
“The long list of experiences and
success is just a value you want to
have around. He’s a winner. You
talk about culture in the clubhouse
and creating a winning culture,
that’s the guy you want to be here to
help establish that.”
Freese returned as the Dodgers’
first baseman against left-handed
pitchers. Playing time was spare
when he wasn’t spending six weekson the injured list. He stayed sharp
by avoiding excess exertion. His
preparation isn’t very mechanical.
He has taken batting practice on
the field, by his count, fewer than
five times the last couple of years.
Instead, he tries to visualize every-
thing. He feels freer that way.
The formula produced a .315 bat-
ting average with 11 home runs and
a 1.002 on-base-plus-slugging per-
centage in 79 games. He’ll continue
as the Dodgers’ part-time first
baseman in the postseason, split-
ting duties with Max Muncy.
“We’ve all marveled at how easy
he’s made hitting look,” Friedman
said.
Off the field, his willingness to
take a backseat to others, team-
mates explained, set an example as
the Dodgers continued moving
players around to maximize wins.
He replaced Chase Utley as the
team’s sage and utility man En-
rique Hernandez’s mentor. Somenights, the two just hang out after
games, watching MLB Network,
discussing baseball and life until 2
a.m.
“There’s something about his
voice,” Hernandez said. “He
doesn’t talk much, but when he
does talk, you want to listen.”
Freese believes this is the most
talented team he’s ever played on, a
list that includes the 2011 World Se-
ries champion St. Louis Cardinals.
He knows, for sure, this is the most
fun he’s ever enjoyed as a major
leaguer. But all signs, again, point
to him retiring when this Dodgers
pursuit of their first World Series ti-
tle since 1988 is over. Unless, of
course, something changes.
“It still feels surreal that I’m
even here a year later,” Freese said.
“I’m just really grateful. It’s become
kind of a cliche word, but I am really
grateful to the people on this team.
“It’s just, man, it’s just a hell of a
good time being a Dodger.”Freese is valued for leadership, batting skills
[Dodgers,from D1]
WASHINGTON — The Wash-
ington Nationals may have exor-
cised their ghosts of Octobers past
— and anyone following this fran-
chise knows they have enough to
fill an entire lineup — with a stun-
ning eighth-inning rally in which
everything went right for a change.
Trailing by two runs and facing
one of baseball’s best relievers in
Milwaukee left-hander Josh
Hader, the Nationals used a dis-
puted hit by pitch, a broken-bat
single, a walk, a two-run hit by a
young outfielder and an error to
fashion a three-run uprising, as
bedlam broke out in Nationals
Park.
With a sellout crowd of 42,993 on
its feet and a deafening roar accom-
panying every pitch, reliever Dan-
iel Hudson, a two-time Tommy
John surgery survivor who was cut
by the Angels in spring training,
pitched the ninth inning to seal a
4-3 victory in Tuesday night’s Na-
tional League wild-card game.
The Nationals advanced to a
best-of-five Division Series against
the Dodgers, with left-hander Pat-
rick Corbin slated to start Game 1
in Chavez Ravine on Thursday
night.
“I never doubted this team,”
general manager Mike Rizzo said
amid a wild champagne-and-beer-
soaked dance party in the club-
house. “We were 19-31 [on May 23]
and to the outside world, the world
was coming to an end for the Na-
tionals.
“We kind of got in our little co-
coon in Washington and grinded it
out. I feel good about this team. I
think it’s a character team. The
best is yet to come, I think.”
The worst, the Nationals hope,
is behind them.
Elimination games have not
been kind to this club, the combi-
nation of win-or-go-home stress,
shaky relief pitching, poor execu-
tion and bad luck leading to some
of the worst October meltdowns in
recent history.
In Game 5 of a 2012 Division Se-
ries, Washington had a 6-0 third-in-
ning lead over St. Louis. The Cardi-
nals chipped away and scored four
runs against Drew Storen in the
ninth for a 9-7 win.
The Nationals led the Dodgers
1-0 through six innings of Game 5 ofa 2016 Division Series. Joc Peder-
son opened the seventh with a
home run against Max Scherzer
and the Dodgers added three runs
against five relievers in the inning
for a 4-3 win.
Washington’s 9-8 loss to Chi-
cago in Game 5 of a 2017 Division
Series almost defies explanation.
The Cubs scored four two-out runs
against Scherzer during a fifth in-
ning in which four consecutive bat-
ters reached without a hit — an in-
tentional walk, a third-strike
passed ball, a catcher’s interfer-
ence and a hit by pitch.
There was more teeth-gnashing
among Nats fans Tuesday, as
Scherzer gave up a two-run home
run to Yasmani Grandal in the first
inning, a home run to Eric Thames
in the second, and Washington
mustered one run and three hits in
seven innings against Brandon
Woodruff, Brent Suter and Drew
Pomeranz.That frustration morphed into
elation after Stephen Strasburg,
making his first relief appearance,
pitched the sixth, seventh and
eighth innings and prevented a 3-1
deficit from growing.
Hader, who led all relievers with
138 strikeouts in 75^2 ⁄ 3 innings,
struck out Victor Robles with a 98-
mph fastball to open the eighth.
A full-count fastball appeared
to hit the knob of pinch-hitter
Michael Taylor’s bat before car-
oming off his left shoulder. Plate
umpire Mike Everitt ruled hit by
pitch. A replay official in New York
“did not see clear and convincing
evidence to overturn the call.”
Trea Turner, who homered in
the third, struck out for the second
out. Hader shattered pinch-hitter
Ryan Zimmerman’s bat with a 97-
mph fastball, but the 35-year-old
got enough of it to flare a single to
center, advancing Taylor to third.
“I told him the barrel’s over-
rated sometimes,” Rizzo said. “He
was due. We were due to get one of
those.”
Anthony Rendon walked to
load the bases. Juan Soto, the 20-
year-old left fielder who hit 34
home runs, lined a single to right to
drive in two runs.
Right fielder Trent Grisham
charged hard in hopes of throwing
out pinch-runner Andrew Steven-
son from second, but the ball
kicked off his glove for an error, al-
lowing Rendon to score from first
for a 4-3 lead.
“Tonight we caught a couple of
breaks, we got a little bit lucky, and
you’ll take that in the playoffs
sometimes,” Zimmerman said.
“We haven’t been able to get over
the hump. Maybe this is it, maybe it
isn’t, who knows? All I can say is
this is a fun team to watch.”Nationals go wild with a late comeback
Soto’s single in eighth and
Brewers error puts them in
NLDS against Dodgers.
WASHINGTON 4
MILWAUKEE 3
By Mike DiGiovanna
NATIONALS’ ANTHONY RENDONapproaches Brewers
catcher Yasmani Grandal to score in a three-run eighth inning.Andrew HarnikAssociated PressMilwaukeeAB R H BI Avg.
Grisham rf 3 1 0 0 .231
Grandal c 3 1 1 2 .246
Mstakas 3b 4 0 0 0 .254
Hiura 2b 4 0 1 0 .303
Spgnbrg 2b 0 0 0 0 .232
Braun lf 4 0 1 0 .285
Hader p 0 0 0 0 .000
Thames 1b 4 1 2 1 .247
Cain cf 4 0 1 0 .260
Arcia ss 4 0 1 0 .223
Woodruff p 0 0 0 0 .267
a-Shaw 0 0 0 0 .157
Suter p 0 0 0 0 .000
Pomeranz p 1 0 0 0 .000
Gamel lf 1 0 0 0 .248
Totals 32 3 7 3Washington AB R H BI Avg.
Turner ss 4 1 1 1 .298
Eaton rf 3 0 0 0 .279
d-Zmrmn 1 0 1 0 .257
1-Stevenson 0 1 0 0 .367
Hudson p 0 0 0 0 ---
Rendon 3b 3 1 0 0 .319
Soto lf 4 0 1 2 .282
Kendrick 1b 3 0 1 0 .344
Cabrera 2b 3 0 0 0 .323
Suzuki c 3 0 0 0 .264
Robles cf 3 0 1 0 .255
Scherzer p 1 0 0 0 .182
b-Dozier 1 0 0 0 .238
Strasburg p 0 0 0 0 .167
c-M.Taylor rf 0 1 0 0 .250
Totals 29 4 5 3
Milwaukee 210 000 000 — 3 7 2
Washington 001 000 03x — 4 5 0
a-walked for Woodruff in the 5th. b-reached on error for Scherzer
in the 5th. c-hit by pitch for Strasburg in the 8th. d-singled for Eaton
in the 8th. 1-ran for Zimmerman in the 8th.
Walks—Milwaukee 3: Grisham 1, Grandal 1, Shaw 1. Washington
1: Rendon 1.
Strikeouts—Milwaukee 11: Grisham 2, Grandal 1, Moustakas 1,
Hiura 3, Thames 1, Cain 1, Arcia 1, Pomeranz 1. Washington 7: Turner
1, Eaton 1, Rendon 1, Soto 2, Robles 2.
E—Moustakas (12), Grisham (0). LOB—Milwaukee 6, Washington- 2B—Thames (23), Hiura (23). HR—Grandal (28), off Scherzer;
Thames (25), off Scherzer; Turner (19), off Woodruff. RBIs—Grandal
2 (77), Thames (61), Turner (57), Soto 2 (110). S—Woodruff.
Runners left in scoring position—Milwaukee 4 (Grisham, Arcia,
Hiura, Braun); Washington 1 (Turner, Soto). RISP—Milwaukee 0 for 6;
Washington 1 for 2. Runners moved up—Cain. GIDP—Thames.
DP—Washington 1 (Rendon, Turner, Kendrick).
Milwaukee IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Woodruff.....................4 2 1 1 0 3 52 3.62
Suter..........................1 1 0 0 0 0 27 0.49
Pomeranz, H, 12...........2 0 0 0 0 2 30 2.39
Hader, L, 3-5, BS, 37-44
.................................1
2 3 2 1 2 30 2.62
Washington IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA
Scherzer......................5 4 3 3 3 6 77 2.92
Strasburg, W, 18-6........3 2 0 0 0 4 34 3.32
Hudson, S, 6-8.............1 1 0 0 0 1 11 1.44
HBP—Hader (M.Taylor).
U—Mike Everitt, Kerwin Danley, Jeff Nelson, Cory Blaser T—2:55.
Tickets sold—42,993 (41,313).His mysterious “overall body situa-
tion” will not keep him off the ros-
ter. He will be one of the eight pitch-
ers in the bullpen.
“I saw it come out of the hand,”
Roberts said. “It was good. The ef-
fort was there so he’ll be ready to go
on Thursday, in whatever capacity,
whatever role.”
— Jorge CastilloKershaw’s cleats
Kershaw will wear a special
cleat during the playoffs, one with
the letters “CCC” on the heel.
The cleat is part of Kershaw’s
endorsement deal with Skechers,
set to be announced Wednesday.
The letters “CCC,” Kershaw
said in a statement, stand for the
first letter of the names of Ker-
shaw’s three children — Cali,
Charley, and a son due in January
that the pitcher said “will likely be
named with a C.”
Skechers does not sell baseball
cleats, but the company worked
with Kershaw to design a cleat just
for him.
By next year, the company
plans to sell a training shoe that
Kershaw will help design.
— Bill ShaikinDodgers manager Dave Rob-
ertsdeclined to divulge the start-
ing rotation for the upcoming Na-
tional League Division Series
against the Washington Nationals,
but he confirmed that Justin
Turnerwill play in Game 1 on
Thursday.
Turner’s status was iffy before
the Dodgers took the field for a
workout Tuesday at Dodger Sta-
dium as the wild-card between the
Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers
was aired on the big screens.
It was a test for the third base-
man, sidelined for the Dodgers’ fi-
nal five games because of back dis-
comfort. The Dodgers were ready
to adjust their roster for the series
if Turner was limited.
The contingency plan was nixed
after Turner fielded ground balls
and batted in a simulated game.
“I feel very confident that he’ll
be able to perform at his level come
Thursday,” Roberts said.
Turner, 34, injured his back tak-
ing batting practice Sept. 25 after
having recently returned from a 13-
day absence brought on by an an-
kle injury.
He took swings over the week-
end in San Francisco, but the Dod-
gers decided to keep him out of
games, leaving Turner with 11 plate
appearances since Sept. 7.
Roberts was less transparent
about the rotation. He said the
club has decided how Clayton Ker-
shaw, Walker Buehlerand Hyun-
Jin Ryuwill line up in the first three
games, but declined to share the
information. Patrick Corbin will
start Game 1 for Washington.
“I think that divulging that now,
[there’s] just not a whole lot of up-
side,” Roberts said. “We’ll kind of
just keep it under wraps.”
Roberts confirmed that Rich
Hillwill start Game 4, if necessary.
Roberts said he is “comfortable”
with Hill throwing four innings.
The left-hander could also come
out of the bullpen in Games 1 and 2.
Roberts acknowledged second
baseman Gavin Luxand utility
man Matt Beatywill be on the ros-
ter. So will Joe Kelly.
The right-hander threw a 20-
pitch bullpen Tuesday after ap-
pearing in a game Sunday for the
first time since Sept. 18. He faced
two hitters and threw six pitches.Etc.
Just more than a year after
shoulder surgery, left-hander Sean
Manaeawill start for the Oakland
Athletics against the Tampa Bay
Rays in the American League wild-
card game Wednesday. Manaea,
who was 4-0 with a 1.21 earned-run
average, got the nod over Mike
Fiers, who was 15-4 and threw a no-
hitter May 7 against the Cincinnati
Reds to begin a 21-start unbeaten
stretch in which he was 12-0. ... The
Chicago Cubs said coaches Mark
Lorettaand Will Venableare being
considered for the team’s manage-
rial opening. They join David Ross
as the club’s only internal candi-
dates to replace Joe Maddon,
whose contract expired after the
Cubs did not reach the playoffs for
the first time since 2014. Ross, a for-
mer catcher, works in the front of-
fice. ... New York Mets rookie Pete
Alonsovisited the National Sep-
tember 11 Memorial & Museum on
Tuesday to donate the custom
cleats and bat honoring first re-
sponders that he used in a game on
the 18th anniversary of the terrorist
attacks. Alonso led the majors with
53 home runs.NOTES
Dodgers’ Turner to play in NLDS opener
staff and wire reports
DODGERS vs.
WASHINGTON
Best of five
GM
1 Thursday at Dodgers, 5:30 p.m.
GM(^2) Friday at Dodgers, 6:30 p.m.
GM
3 Sunday at Washington, TBD
GM
4 Monday at Washington, TBD
GM
5 Oct. 9 at Dodgers, TBD
TV: All games on TBS
Games 4, 5 if necessary
ATLANTA vs.
ST. LOUIS
Best of five
GM
1 Thursday at Atlanta, 2 p.m.
GM
(^2) Friday at Atlanta, 1:30 p.m.
GM
3 Sunday at St. Louis, TBD
GM
4 Monday at St. Louis, TBD
GM
5 Oct. 9 at Atlanta, TBD
TV: All games on TBS
Games 4, 5 if necessary
NL DIVISION SERIES All PDT
HOUSTON vs.
TAMPA BAY/OAKLAND
Best of five
GM
1 Friday at Houston, 11 a.m.
GM
(^2) Saturday at Houston, 6 p.m.
GM
3 Mon. at Tampa Bay/Oak., TBD
GM
4 Tue. at Tampa Bay/Oak., TBD
GM
5 Oct. 10 at Houston, TBD
TV: FS1 (Game 3 on FS1/MLB)
Games 4, 5 if necessary
NEW YORK vs.
MINNESOTA
Best of five
GM
1 Friday at New York, 4 p.m.
GM
(^2) Saturday at New York, 2 p.m.
GM
3 Monday at Minnesota, TBD
GM
4 Tuesday at Minnesota, TBD
GM
5 Oct. 10 at New York, TBD
TV: Game 1 on MLB, others FS1/MLB
Games 4, 5 if necessary
AL DIVISION SERIES All PDT
AL WILD-CARD GAME
Tampa Bay at
Oakland
Today, 5 p.m. TV: ESPN
TB:Morton (16-6, 3.05)
Oak:Manaea (4-0, 1.21)
World Series title in 108 years,
would be a logical choice. The 65-
year-old spent 31 years with the An-
gels before taking his first manage-
rial post with Tampa Bay in 2006.
He has a winning resume and has
overseen the face lifts of the Rays
and the Cubs, who parted ways
with Maddon after a disappointing
84-win season.
But Eppler said Maddon’s avail-
ability, which was first hinted at
last week, did not influence the An-
gels’ decision to fire Ausmus,
whom Eppler signed to a three-
year contract last October.
Ausmus’ dismissal, Eppler said,
“had been deliberated on for a
while.” Eppler said the decision to
move on from Ausmus was made
with Moreno and Carpino.
Eppler took responsibility for
the failings of the Angels, who fin-
ished 72-90 and posted the third-
highest earned-run average (5.12)
in franchise history. Eppler’s
short-term free-agent acquisitions
“did not produce to their fore-
casts,” a reality that became evi-
dent early in the season. By June,
closer Cody Allen had been demot-
ed from his role, former New York
Mets ace Matt Harvey had posted
a 7.50 ERA in 10 starts, and fellow
starter Trevor Cahill was being
transitioned to the bullpen. Of the
three, only Cahill remained with
the Angels all season. He was the
only Angels pitcher to surpass the
100-inning mark.
Eppler also signed catcher Jon-
athan Lucroy and first baseman
Justin Bour to one-year deals. Lu-
croy landed with the Cubs after be-
ing designated for assignment in
August. Bour spent most of his
season at triple A while 39-year-old
Albert Pujols, who turned in his
most productive season since 2016,
played first base in 98 games.
The season hit a low point when
pitcher Tyler Skaggs was found
dead in his hotel room July 1. The
Angels won 12 of 18 games after that
to surge into wild-card contention,
then fizzled out. They completed
the season fourth in the division af-
ter an 18-41 stretch.
Two others hired by Eppler
were fired Tuesday: pitching coach
Doug White and bench coach Josh
Paul. Paul, a former Angels catcher
who joined the coaching staff last
year, had played for Mike Scioscia
in 2004 and 2005. White was in his
first year with the Angels.
“Our results this year fell short
of expectations and we collectively
thought it was in the best interests
of the organization to go a different
direction,” Eppler said.
What that direction will be re-
mains to be seen. Eppler didn’t
provide specifics about the wish
list for a manager. He volunteered
only that experience, particularly
in winning a championship, might
bolster a candidate’s resume.
The Angels last year chose Aus-
mus out of a pool of 10 candidates.
Among them were Houston Astros
coach Joe Espada, Angels special
assistant Eric Chavez, and 11-time
Gold Glove-winning shortstop
Omar Vizquel, none of whom had
managed in the majors. All three
remain available, as are former ma-
jor league managers Joe Girardi,
John Farrell and John Gibbons.
Angels search
for manager
[Angels,from D1]