One way to keep Dodger relievers from ruining the team’s postseason run is to keep the bullpen gate closed for as long as possible.
Blake Snell gave that strategy a whirl in Game 1 of the National League wild-card series Tuesday, pitching a solid — sometimes brilliant —- seven innings. But even then he and his teammates had to wait out the nightly bullpen meltdown before escaping with a 10-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
“Blake was fantastic tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said. “You could see he was in complete control.