Sergio Alcantara on Wednesday used a translator for most of his post-game interview following his three-run homer in the 10th inning that lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3.
The questions would come in English. Alcantara responded in Spanish.
That is, until he was asked if he was looking for a fastball during his clutch at-bat. No translator needed for that one.
Photo: AP
“Yeah,” he said, grinning. “I was looking fastball.”
The slim infielder got the pitch he wanted with two outs and hit his surprising long ball way over the right-field fence off closer Craig Kimbrel as the D-backs snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Dodgers and avoided a three-game sweep.
The Dodgers took a 3-2 lead earlier in the 10th when Austin Barnes scored on a wild pitch by Reyes Moronta (1-0).
Photo: AP
Kimbrel (4-6) blew his fifth save of the season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he was still confident Kimbrel would be the team’s closer as the team prepare for post-season play.
The right-hander had thrown 9-1/3 scoreless innings before Wednesday’s blown save.
Photo: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY
“No one feels worse than Craig right now,” Roberts said.
Los Angeles started several bench players one day after clinching the National League West title.
Stars such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Justin Turner were all out of the starting lineup.
“Everybody’s talking that it wasn’t their starters,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I don’t care. We won a baseball game and it’ll push us to the next day. I want us to feel good about it.”
In St Louis, Missouri, pitcher Adam Wainwright earned the win and catcher Yadier Molina drove in a run in their record-setting 325th start together as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1.
Wainwright and Molina broke the career mark for starts by batterymates, topping the record of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan of the Detroit Tigers from 1963 to 1975.
Nolan Arenado and Lars Nootbaar hit home runs for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, who increased their edge over the Brewers to eight games.
Wainwright (11-9) limited the Brewers to one run in five innings. Ryan Helsley tossed a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.
Brewers starter Corbin Burnes (10-7) allowed three runs.
In other games, it was:
‧ Blue Jays 5, Rays 1
‧ Giants 4, Braves 1
‧ Guardians 5, Angels 3
‧ Mariners 6, Padres 1
‧ Marlins 1, Phillies 6
‧ Mets 3, Cubs 6
‧ Nationals 2, Orioles 6
‧ Rangers 7, Athletics 8
‧ Red Sox 3, Yankees 5
‧ Reds 4, Pirates 10
‧ Tigers 1, Astros 2
‧ Twins 4, Royals 0
‧ White Sox 0, Rockies 3
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