Greg Holland’s meltdown on the mound cost the Diamondbacks a sure win. Arizona led the Dodgers by one, and Holland was one out away from locking down the save. He looked sharp at first, getting two quick outs. Then it unraveled. He worked too slowly, kept fiddling with his hat, shirt, face—anything but attacking the strike zone. He kept throwing off-speed pitches but couldn’t locate them. After walking one batter on a full count, he lost the strike zone completely.
The Dodgers didn’t need a single hit to win. Holland walked five straight batters, including the tying and winning runs. Cody Bellinger came up with the bases loaded but didn’t need to swing. Holland hit him on a full count. Game over. The pitching coach hesitated to pull him, but by the time he did, it was too late. Every pitch missed low or wide. It was a complete loss of control, both mental and mechanical. A one-run lead turned into a loss without a single ball leaving the infield.