The game is tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth it has been a battle of pitching. The Dodgers bullpen easily handles the Cubs power hitters Rizzo and Bryant. Now it is up to the Cubs bullpen to survive the Dodgers patient offense. The Cubs fail they walk two players Yasiel Puig and Chris Taylor. Now Justin Turner is up. All he needs is to get one run in. He steps up. The pitch goes, and it hits his bat. The ball goes goes goes...its gone.
Now the Dodgers are up 3-0. Many could factors can be credited to their success such as a focused Puig, a sensational Chris Taylor, and quality innings from Yu Darvish and Rich Hill. Above all their bullpen has had laser sharp focus as they are striking out batters with minimal pitches.
To maintain its strength, starting pitchers must keep giving quality innings to minimize wearing out the bullpen. The move of Kenta Maeda to the bullpen has been a work of genius by Dodger Manager Dave Roberts. Kenta has had a poise that he had never found as a starting pitcher and has become lethal in the post season allowing no runs. The same lethality goes for Brandon Morrow who has been a revelation this post season. Morrow a type 1 diabetic who has revitalized his career in the bullpen is lights out also.
The support that starting pitchers have is reassuring, and if the Dodgers bullpen keeps up it's magic this postseason definitely be special.