The Dodgers End Up on the Wrong Side of History in NLDS Game 1

One at-bat that went historically the wrong way for LA.

The Dodgers were a part of MLB postseason history in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. More specifically, the Dodgers and rookie pitcher Michael Grove were a part of history.

With the game well out of hand and Dave Roberts just looking to get through 9 innings without using too many leverage relievers, the manager handed the ball to Grove in the 7th inning to get through the Diamondbacks' 7-8-9 hitters.

The inning kicked off with a battle for the ages that ended up with the Dodgers on the wrong side of postseason history. Grove faced Alek Thomas who fought through 13 pitches before hammering a slider on the 14th pitch for a home run.

The 14-pitch at-bat was a record for most pitches in a plate appearance ending in a home run since pitch counts started being tracked, as it says in the below tweet.

The sequence went:

1. Fastball, foul ball
2. Slider, ball
3. Fastball, foul ball
4. Slider, foul ball
5. Slider, foul ball
6. Curveball, foul ball
7. Fastball, foul ball
8. Fastball, foul ball
9. Slider, foul ball
10. Slider, foul ball
11. Slider, foul ball
12. Fastball, foul ball
13. Curveball, ball
14. Slider, home run

The sequence almost certainly cost Grove an inning in the game and added to the misery for Dodger fans in the stands in LA.

Both teams are off on Sunday before resuming the series on Monday at Dodger Stadium. The Diamondbacks hold a 1-0 series lead.