Andy Pages bests Mason Miller after an epic 9-pitch at-bat in 9th inning of Dodgers' win over Padres
Andy Pages dug in against Mason Miller and simply refused to give in. Pages finally connected on the ninth pitch from Miller, driving the 101.5 mph fastball just far enough to score Los Angeles' tiebreaking run in the ninth inning of a stirring 5-4 victory over the Padres.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Andy Pages dug in against Mason Miller and simply refused to give in. The Dodgers' young slugger fouled off three triple-digit fastballs and three 87 mph sliders from San Diego's peerless closer in an epic at-bat Tuesday night. Pages finally connected on the ninth pitch from Miller, driving the 101.
5 mph fastball just far enough to score Los Angeles' tiebreaking run in the ninth inning of a stirring 5-4 victory over the Padres . That was much more than just a sacrifice fly to the Dodgers, who handed Miller (1-1) his first loss in a San Diego uniform. Pages proved once again that the World Series champions can handle anything their closest geographical rivals can throw their way — even if it's coming at 101 mph.
“That was one of the greatest at-bats I've ever seen in person,” Freddie Freeman said. “And I've been playing a long time. That was incredible.
” The Dodgers know they'll be matched up with Miller for years to come, and they've faced the reliever known as “The Reaper” in each of the first two games in their first series of the season against the Padres. After Miller pitched his way out of a jam on Monday, the Dodgers manufactured an unearned run Tuesday to beat the star of San Diego's impressive bullpen. The Dodgers needed help from an ABS challenge and a hard-luck throwing error by Miller, but the hardest work was done by Pages, the Cuban center fielder who has been playing like a superstar this season, his third in the majors.