LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 takes out Kervin Castro #76 of the San Francisco Giants against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning in game 4 of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler is doing whatever it takes to avoid a win or go home NLDS Game 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The San Francisco Giants had one goal on Tuesday night, defeat the rival Los Angeles Dodgers and advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2014. This is a team that already shocked the world by winning 107 games this season, so eliminating the defending World Series champions would not be surprising.
Let’s just say that manager Gabe Kapler was doing whatever he could to avoid a Game 5. That is evident when you saw that he used four pitchers through the first three innings of Game 4.
Gabe Kapler runs through pitchers early in NLDS Game 4
Anthony DeSclafani received the start for Game 4, and it did not go as planned. The right-hander gave up two earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. The Dodgers scored those two runs on a double by Trea Turner in the bottom of the first and a sacrifice fly by Chris Taylor in the second.
Kapler, seeing the Giants trail 2-0 early, decided to pull DeSclafani in favor of Jose Alvarez, who forced Corey Seager to fly out to end the bottom of the second.
Kervin Castro took the mound to start the third inning. Despite forcing Trea Turner to ground out, Castro walked Will Smith and Justin Turner in consecutive at-bats, forcing Kapler to call upon Jarlin Garcia in relief. Garcia walked Gavin Lux, but got a force out on a Cody Bellinger grounder and ended the inning once Taylor flew out.
Kapler wants no part of the Dodgers in a win or go home game later this week. Hence why he is not taking any chances when it comes to his pitchers.
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