"DFA Kelly. He’s garbage"; "This loss is purely on Roberts" - Dodgers fans start blame game after extra-inning loss vs. Rays

The LA Dodgers suffered a 9-8 extra-inning loss against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. With that, not only did they lose their five-game winning streak but also invited criticism from fans.

It was supposed to be a textbook game for the Dodgers, with their veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw on the mound. However, by the first inning, the Dodgers were already down by four. They did catch up but lost eventually.

Dodgers fans rued many decisions of manager Dave Roberts, with one fan suggesting to DFA Joe Kelly.

"Just cannot lose a game when you score 8 runs. Brutal loss at this point in the season," one fan commented.

"DFA Joe Kelly what are we doing y’all," one fan blamed the reliever.

"DFA Kelly. He’s garbage," another added.

"Why tf did Kelly pitch in the clutch?" another fan asked.

"This loss is purely on Roberts. 🤬🤬🤬," another fan put the blame on the Dodgers manager.

"Roberts trust in legacy > production cost them this game. Phillips has been great recently in the 7th / 8th and Kopech in the 9th… no need to change it up this game. Plus Kelly with the automatic runner on? He is horrible with runners on base…." another fan pointed out where things went wrong.

"Special thanks to our pitchers tonight. 🤦🏻‍♂️" another blamed the pitchers for the loss.

"Bullpen let us down tonight," one fan added.

What happened late in the Dodgers vs. Rays game that led fans to mock Dave Roberts and Joe Kelly?

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros - Picture credit: Imagn

Despite a poor start from the mound by Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers hitters got them back in the game, scoring three runs in back-to-back innings to take a 6-5 lead by the end of the fifth inning.

The Dodgers added one more run in the seventh, but the Rays tied it up by scoring a run each in the eighth and ninth innings.

Instead of continuing with Evan Phillips, who gave up a run and struck out three, Dave Roberts brought in Joe Kelly to pitch the 10th inning. Kelly hasn't been having a great season, squandering the lead many times this season already.

Kelly came in to retire Josh Lowe. However, he gave up a two-run home run to Jose Caballero, as the Rays took a 9-7 lead in the game.

In the bottom half, Mookie Betts drove in Miguel Rojas on a sac fly to cut the deficit to 9-8. However, Freddie Freeman grounded out to second base against Garrett Cleavinger to end the inning and an exciting game.