Cody Bellinger was replaced early on Sunday in his Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-4 draw with the San Francisco Giants. Manager Dave Roberts justified the decision with the fact that the First Baseman “didn’t give it all” during a play. However, the accused denied this.
Bellinger was changed in the fifth inning. Roberts explained the decision to reporters: “He didn’t exert himself on the play. He hit the ball over 421 feet into Right Field and then he cruises to second base.” The ball landed in the so-called “Triples Alley”, the area in AT&T Park where triples usually form when the ball lands.
Roberts added: “He plays every day and there are certain expectations about how we have to play the game. If you don’t stick to it, we’ll get someone else to do it. It’s pretty simple.”
Bellinger himself was surprised by the banishment to the bank: “I came into the dugout and he told me that I was out. I had no reason to. “I just put on my jacket, went to the railing and watched the game.” Bellinger also stressed: “I have always played the game hard. I made a big swing on a curveball and landed on my knee. We’re down four runs, so I didn’t try to make an out on the bases by running third base.”
Commenting on his manager’s decision, Bellinger said: “He saw what he saw. It’s all good. That’s not gonna haunt me anymore. Apparently it’s Triples Alley. That’s what they call the range, but we were behind with four runs and that was my reason not to try. It was his decision, so I can’t say otherwise.”
After their defeat on Sunday, the Dodgers lost the series against San Francisco 1-3. In the National League West they are already five games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks at 12-15.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.