Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke at a team press conference on July 7, 2026, following a 3-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Roberts identified two plays as the primary drivers of the defeat. Low Cain issued a lead-off walk that Roberts said set off a damaging chain of events. "You have a two-run lead. You've got a right-handed hitter up to lead the inning off. You just can't walk him," Roberts said. On the defensive side, Miggy failed to cover third base on a bunt play. Roberts explained the assignment: "Once Max fields the ball, then he's supposed to kind of follow trail behind him." Roberts also noted that Miggy "didn't make a play" on a separate occasion during the game.
Despite the miscues, Roberts offered significant grace to Miggy, stating, "This guy is as dependable as they come. So, that it happens." Roberts acknowledged the errors as very uncharacteristic for a player he regards as one of the most reliable on the roster. The Dodgers also had a chance to respond late, with first and second base occupied and the top of the order — including Shohei, Chase, Andy, and Freddy — due up in the ninth inning, but the team could not push a run across.
Roberts highlighted a silver lining in the ninth inning, pointing to Evan's sharp outing. Roberts said Evan's velocity sat at 97 to 99 mph, and that his back-door sweeper to strike out Mickey Moniak was "pretty impressive." Roberts expressed happiness for Evan given his recovery from Tommy John surgery, adding, "He had a long road with the Tommy John. So, really happy for him." Roberts also addressed Justin's recent performance, noting that Justin had accumulated approximately 20 strikeouts over his last two starts, driven by velocity that ticked up to the 97 mph range after earlier sitting in the 94-to-low-90s range, a sharper slider, and better use of count leverage. Roberts added that Justin's varied arsenal — including a low-slot fastball, slow breaking ball, hard slider, and changeup — makes him difficult for opponents to prepare for, stating, "It is hard to game plan versus Justin, especially a guy that you know he's going to be around the plate."
Roberts described Shohei Ohtani's 300th career home run as a remarkable milestone. "It was 119 off the bat. Low launch angle. I mean, it was squared up. Got out in a hurry and 300 — he got there pretty quickly," Roberts noted. Roberts added that Shohei celebrated a birthday on July 6, 2026, and expressed confidence that 500 home runs remains within reach: "He just had a birthday yesterday. Still young. Still strong. So, I definitely think 500 is in his future."