The Dodgers summoned Kenta Maeda in the eighth inning Tuesday night with an unenviable task. The heart of the Colorado Rockies’ lineup waited in a tie game. One mistake could have cost the Dodgers first place. First up was Nolan Arenado, an MVP candidate. Three pitches, three strikes. . Next came Matt Holliday. Three pitches, three strikes.
Ian Desmond followed. Maeda stumbled, finally, and threw a ball to begin the at-bat. Then the right-hander struck out Desmond with the next three pitches. The near-immaculate summary: 10 pitches, nine strikes, three strikeouts.