Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — What a night at Chavez Ravine!
On a day when the Dodgers received their long-awaited World Series rings, the team gave fans even more to celebrate with a dramatic 8–5 comeback win over the Detroit Tigers. After trailing for much of the game, the Dodgers stormed back in the late innings to remain undefeated at 4–0.
Manager Dave Roberts was all smiles in his postgame press conference, reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions — and the grit — that defined the evening.
“Tonight was a crazy night,” Roberts said. “We start off 4–0. I thought Yamamoto threw the heck out of the baseball… just got the pitch count up, 90 pitches through five innings. I didn’t want to push him anymore at that point in time.”
While the bullpen had its ups and downs, Roberts had praise for several relievers. “Kirby [Yates] was great. I still thought Luis García threw the ball well, and Tanner [Scott]’s just working through some things — he’ll be fine.”
But it was Mookie Betts who stole the show with a two-homer performance — and he did it just days after being physically limited.
“That was not on my bingo card,” Roberts laughed. “He just does some special things… just given what he’s been under the last couple weeks and still to go out there and be ready and not be 100% and still give us everything he has — I can’t say enough about Mookie. He won a ballgame for us tonight.”
The drama only added to an already emotional night, which began with the team receiving their 2024 championship rings in front of a roaring Dodger Stadium crowd.
“I thought our guys did a really nice job of sort of compartmentalizing that part of it — the festivities — and still getting ready to play,” Roberts said. “Jack [Flaherty] pitched a heck of a ballgame and kept us at bay, but fortunately we got a big hit from Freddie. It was huge. Gave us some life.”
One of the key turning points came in the 10th inning, when Manuel Margot was thrown out at the plate thanks to a textbook relay from Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman. Roberts loved the execution: “Great relay by Teo. Tommy [Edman] made that great throw. Boston [Barnes] made a great tag to stay with the play.”
It was a night full of moments that reminded fans of the grit and fight that defined last year’s championship run. “It’s kind of a hallmark of our ball club,” Roberts said. “We play nine innings — we played ten tonight — but we just don’t quit. We keep competing and putting it back together.”
Roberts also had high praise for Will Smith, who came off the bench with a clutch late-inning hit. “Will’s done it his entire career. When he doesn’t play, it’s not an off day for him. In any big spot, he’s ready to go… and more times than not, he comes through.”
And then there’s Tommy Edman, whose defense continues to shine night after night. “It seems like every game he does something to help you win,” Roberts said. “That’s the mark of a really good baseball player, and there’s a reason we committed to him for a lot of years.”
With the team off to a 4–0 start — and still not firing on all cylinders — Roberts couldn’t hide his excitement.
“By far, by far, by far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “I think that if you’re a Dodger fan, you feel the same way I do. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better. We’re playing good baseball, finding ways to win, and not even playing our best baseball.”
And if this is the beginning, buckle up, Dodgers fans — the ride is just getting started.
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