- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,236,939
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, right, tags out New York Yankees baserunner Anthony Volpe at home plate in the fourth inning of the Dodgers' 2-1 loss in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Sunday night. (Noah K. Murray / Associated Press)
Eliezer Alfonzo jumped on a first-pitch cutter, keeping his hands inside to send it into shallow center field.
Two weeks after making his major-league debut under tragic circumstances, Alfonzo recorded his first major-league hit.
It was a heartwarming moment early in the Dodgers’ 2-1 loss Sunday to the Yankees. By dropping the series finale, the second game of a doubleheader Sunday at Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers settled for a series win instead of sweep at Yankee Stadium.
Read more:'That's why he's our ace.' Yoshinobu Yamamoto shines with latest complete-game gem
With starting catcher Will Smith sidelined indefinitely because of a neck injury, Alfonzo has served as the backup to catcher Dalton Rushing for the past two weeks.
The morning of Alfonzo’s debut, his sister and stepmother, who had been missing since two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela last month, were found dead. Alfonzo still played, honoring them on the field.
Alfonzo’s familiarity with the Dodgers pitching staff from the time he spent on the major-league side in spring training this year has helped provide some measure of stability in Smith’s absence. But he had yet to contribute on the offensive side, going 0 for 9.
Until the third inning of Game 2 Sunday.
Alfonzo rounded first base, kissed his closed right hand and pointed to the sky. Then he turned to the visitors dugout, grinned and lifted both fists above his head.
His teammates made sure to get the ball back. And Teoscar Hernández held it up to show him.
Alfonzo’s two-out single didn’t start a rally. But in the bottom of the fourth, he helped squash one.
Dodgers right-hander Edgardo Henriquez’s command was faltering, to the tune of back-to-back walks and a wild pitch. Then with runners on second and third, he induced José Caballero to hit a grounder to third baseman Max Muncy.
Read more:Shaikin: Shohei Ohtani's knee troubles creating a major pitching dilemma for Dodgers
Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ baserunner on third, took off on contact. Muncy threw on the run to Alfonzo, who was set up on the inside of the basepath. Alfonzo made a diving tag on Volpe to prevent a run.
Throwing a bullpen game, the Dodgers (63-37) used seven pitchers, who combined to limit the Yankees (55-44) to two runs through eight innings. Brock Stewart had a standout performance, entering the fifth with no outs and the bases loaded and retiring three straight batters. He then threw a clean sixth. Alex Vesia struck out the side in the seventh.
Utility man Tommy Edman’s pinch-hit homer in the eighth tied the score. But the next inning, Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a solo homer off Evan Phillips.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Continue reading...
