The Dodgers unleash their big three of high-leverage arms

Evan Phillips retired the side in order in the ninth inning on Saturday to earn a save. (Katie Chin/Los Angeles Dodgers)

by Cary Osborne

It was uphill for the Rockies.

One run against Dodger starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto over six innings was not promising considering the climb they’d have to take against the Dodgers’ high-leverage arms in the bullpen.

And waiting for the end was a returning Evan Phillips, who missed nearly a month of Major League action with a right hamstring strain.

The high-leverage trio of Daniel Hudson, Blake Treinen and Phillips didn’t allow the Rockies to elevate beyond that one run in a 4–1 Dodger win at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.

“When our entire staff is healthy, we’re going to be in a really great position to win,” Phillips said. “We still have a lot of major pieces missing. For me to come back (before) Joe Kelly and Ryan Brasier, but just to picture that bullpen when that time comes will be a lot of fun.”

Phillips went on the injured list on May 5. Between May 5-May 31, the Dodgers used 14 different relief pitchers. Six of them didn’t allow an earned run. Ten had an ERA of 3.00 or below.

As a unit, they had a 2.59 ERA.

Prior to the game, Dodger manager Dave Roberts said he thought Yamamoto should get through six innings. He was right.

He allowed seven hits, one walk, one run and struck out seven over the six frames.

Hudson followed in the seventh inning. It was the first time he had not pitched in the eighth inning or later since April 29.

The veteran right-hander retired all three Rockies he faced.

Blake Treinen followed, pitching the eighth inning for the sixth time in 10 games. The right-hander had two on and two out, and got Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers to ground out to his counterpart Gavin Lux.

Phillips followed and showed no rust — the biggest sign of that was when he delivered a big sweeping slider on an 0–2 count that Colorado first baseman Elehuris Montero whiffed at.

Phillips retired the side in order for his ninth save of the season.

“To go Hudson, Treinen, Evan was pretty exciting for me,” Roberts said.

That trio has a combined 1.36 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings and a 7.9 strikeouts-to-walk ratio.

Bobby Miller’s Rehab Assignment

Bobby Miller’s final line on his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga was 3 1/3 innings, five hits, one walk, zero strikeouts and four earned runs. Miller threw 65 pitches.

Roberts said he didn’t get a chance to review the outing, but was told the velocity was down a few miles per hour.

He wasn’t concerned.

Miller will pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.