LOS ANGELES — The sound of trumpets are now the sound of alarm for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Oh, dear. Here comes closer Edwin Diaz again.
The pain and suffering continued Thursday night, Aug. 13 when he blew his third save since last week and the Dodgers lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 in the first game of a crucial, four-game homestand.
Diaz entered in the bottom of the ninth to the sound of the signature trumpets with the Dodgers leading 4-2 thanks to Max Muncy’s pinch hit, three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
But Diaz heard loud boos from the crowd when he neutralized Muncy’s heroics. He left the field with two outs, the score tied 4-4 and his status as the Dodgers’ closer very much in jeopardy.
Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia allowed the final run, but the Dodgers losing this night belonged to Diaz.
Forget about the saves Diaz was supposed to be racking up for the Dodgers. Is there any saving Diaz from himself?
He’s complained that his sinker’s not sinking. But guess what is sinking? Diaz’s stock.
On Thursday, he did earn some credit – for the loss. He is now 2-2 this season but also a massive disappointment.
In the offseason, the Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year deal worth $69 million and prepared the trumpet intro for the three-time All-Star.
By mid-July he went on the injured list when loose particles − fragments of bone and cartilage − were found in his elbow. Surely the Dodgers hoped that might explain Diaz’s early struggles.
Diaz had a 10.50 ERA in seven appearances before he ended up on the injured list with his elbow injury.
But when he returned from elbow surgery in late July, it soon became apparent that the Dodgers may have fixed his elbow but not his problems on the mound.
There was no tougher gut punch than Thursday against the Brewers. In 2/3 innings pitched, he gave up three earned runs on four hits, rendering his two strikeouts immaterial.
So with the playoffs two months away, arguably the Dodgers' biggest problem has been exposed.
Edwin Diaz cannot be trusted to save games, no matter how loud those trumpets play.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Dodgers have a massive problem. His name is Edwin Diaz. | Opinion