{"id":120583,"date":"2025-08-05T10:06:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/120583\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T10:06:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T10:06:14","slug":"brock-stewart-struggles-in-l-a-return-as-dodgers-lose-to-cardinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/120583\/","title":{"rendered":"Brock Stewart struggles in L.A. return as Dodgers lose to Cardinals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Brock Stewart<\/a> slumped in front of a mostly empty locker in the middle of the Dodgers clubhouse Monday afternoon, a stall that used to belong to pitcher Dustin May<\/a>, as clubhouse attendants rushed over with boxes of brand new size 13 cleats.<\/p>\n

A week ago Stewart was pitching for the Minnesota Twins, who wear red cleats. The Dodgers don\u2019t, so Stewart needed a makeover.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got blue gloves coming too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Getting dressed properly isn\u2019t the only thing players have to worry about when they change teams in the middle of the season. Stewart had a home and family in Minnesota to pack up and move when he learned Thursday that he had been traded from a team with a losing record to one chasing a second straight World Series title<\/a>.<\/p>\n

By late Monday night, Stewart found himself in the middle of that pennant race when he took the mound in the ninth inning of a tie game. It didn\u2019t end well, with Stewart (2-2) surrendering a run on three hits while getting just two outs in a 3-2 loss<\/a> to the St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n

It was a rude homecoming for the right-hander, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 but waived five years later after pitching 36 times over parts of four seasons. After he remade himself during a six-year sojourn<\/a> in which dropped down to independent ball, Stewart was brought back to Los Angeles to stabilize an overworked, injury-plagued bullpen that has struggled.<\/p>\n

In his first appearance at Dodger Stadium in the home uniform since 2019, he added to those struggles, giving up hits to the first two batters he faced, then falling behind 2-0 to pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo, who flared a single over the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers <\/p>\n

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watches from the dugout during a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday.<\/p>\n

(Luke Johnson \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

For manager Dave Roberts<\/a>, one bad outing won\u2019t change Stewart\u2019s role.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s baseball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a high-leverage guy,\u201d Roberts added. \u201cHe was certainly needed for our ballclub and I will use him as such.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stewart certainly wasn\u2019t the only reliever who struggled, with both bullpens wasting excellent efforts by starters Tyler Glasnow<\/a> and Sonny Gray<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Glasnow gave the Dodgers<\/a> (65-48) seven strong innings for the second time in three starts, conceding a run on three hits \u2014 none after the second inning \u2014 while striking out seven. Gray was even better in his seven innings, giving up just a fourth-inning solo home run to Freddie Freeman<\/a> and a second-inning walk to Max Muncy<\/a> before leaving with the score tied 1-1.<\/p>\n

Anthony Banda<\/a> was the first man out of a Dodger bullpen that has pitched more innings than any in baseball. Three batters later the Cardinals (57-57) went ahead on Iv\u00e1n Herrera\u2019s home run to center.<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers <\/p>\n

Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers during a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.<\/p>\n

(Luke Johnson \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Cardinals reliever Riley O\u2019Brien<\/a> gave the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a double to Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So with the score even again, Roberts called on Stewart, who has had a whirlwind week. Five days ago he was on his way to Cleveland with the Twins when he got a call to fly to Tampa, Fla., to join the Dodgers instead. That left his wife Christina to pack up the couple\u2019s house, their sons, 3-year-old Jett and 16-month-old Cal, and their hound-mix puppy and move to Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife is just wearing the brunt of it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s maybe what people don\u2019t understand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roberts, who played in five cities in his career, said the challenge of changing teams can go beyond finding the right color glove and cleats. But the transition was easier for Stewart since he broke in with the Dodgers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s familiar with some of the players, most of the coaching staff, the city itself, the ballpark,\u201d he said. \u201cThings like that are part of his past routine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dodgers <\/p>\n

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home in the fourth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Cardinals on Monday.<\/p>\n

(Luke Johnson \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Stewart, arguably the biggest acquisition the Dodgers made at the trade deadline, had been in Los Angeles less than a day when he got to the ballpark Monday. He agreed he didn\u2019t have much time to get acclimated, though he said he may need some time to find his way around the clubhouse, which underwent a $100-million renovation last winter.<\/p>\n

As for his job, he said the Dodgers had made that clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew<\/a> [Friedman<\/a>] and [Brandon<\/a>] Gomes<\/a> just told me don\u2019t try to change anything. Just do what you\u2019ve been doing and that\u2019ll be good enough,\u201d he said, referencing the team\u2019s president of baseball operations and general manager, respectively.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t good enough Monday. But, Roberts said afterward, there\u2019s still a lot more games to be played.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock,\u201d he said, \u201cwill get the baseball a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sasaki set to throw<\/p>\n

Right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to throw the equivalent of three innings to hitters Friday and if that goes well, he could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week. He has not pitched in nearly three months after going on the IL with a shoulder impingement.<\/p>\n

Edman goes on injured list<\/p>\n

Utilityman Hyeseong Kim, out since July 29 with a shoulder issue, is swinging a bat and taking grounders. Roberts is optimistic Kim will be able to return soon. But another utility player, Tommy Edman, went on the IL with an ankle injury. With Kim, Edman and Kik\u00e9 Hern\u00e1ndez, another utility player, all out with injuries, Roberts has not had the usual versatility he has enjoyed in fielding a lineup.<\/p>\n

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