Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Reacts to Tyler Anderson Shoving Ian Happ

Top of the sixth, Cubs up 3-0, Ian Happ gets caught in a rundown between Tyler Anderson, who took cover of home plate while third baseman Justin Turner lobbed him the ball. Happ, who went shoulder down, attempted to go straight through the Dodgers pitcher who was simply not expecting it.

Happ’s attempt at a tackle in pursuit of home plate took Anderson by surprise and in response, the pitcher seemed to shove Happ down after tagging him out.

Anderson recognized and respected Happ’s aggressiveness after the game but in the moment things seemed a little more tense between the players.

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— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 9, 2022

Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts spoke about the incident with similar feelings as Anderson (quotes via The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya).

“I think right there, he was tackled by Happ. I think he was trying to just put a tag down and kind of just bulled through him…Obviously I thought that he was a little too aggressive, where he knew he was already out. He was focused on scoring. He plays hard. I didn’t take any offense to it.”

Despite the scuffle, the lefty pitched a great game allowing only three runs off five hits with no walks and four strikeouts. This was Anderson’s fourth time out of 17 starts to pitch through seven innings.

After the controversial play in the sixth, the Dodgers went on to score on an error in the bottom of the sixth and later tied the game up in the bottom of the ninth before Will Smith captured the win with his walk off single in the bottom of the tenth.

The Dodgers now have an eight game winning streak as they remain atop the National League West Standings with about a week left before the All-Star Break.

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