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Three times in the ninth inning last Friday night in New York, new Dodgers closer Tanner Scott made the same simplistic, save-blowing mistake.

In an inning that saw Scott blow a three-run Dodgers lead — forcing the team into a 13-inning marathon that, despite eventually winning, their overworked bullpen could ill-afford — Scott got to two strikes against a Mets batter, only to leave a mistake pitch over the plate.

To Starling Marte, it was a 1-and-2 fastball up and over the middle, resulting in a leadoff single.

After a one-out walk to Pete Alonso, Scott had Jeff McNeil 2-and-2 before throwing a belt-high heater on the inner half that was ripped for a two-run triple.

Another two-strike count followed to Tyrone Taylor, but Scott’s 1-and-2 slider hung up around the heart of zone, leading to a tying single that marked Scott’s fourth blown save in 14 opportunities this year and raised his ERA to 3.42 — hardly the numbers expected out of an All-Star left-hander signed to a $72-million contract this offseason.

“I think the stuff is still good,” manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “It’s just right now, it just seems like when there is a mistake, they find some outfield grass or put a good swing on it.”

And lately, such mistakes have been coming in more abundance than usual for Scott, highlighting one early-season trend the Dodgers are now working to address.

“Right now, he’s just kind of living in the middle, the midline of the zone,” pitching coach Mark Prior said. “You leave it in that spot, more than likely they’re gonna put a good swing on it.”

Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott embraces catcher Dalton Rushing after a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on May 21.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

For a pitcher who struggled with command issues early in his career — before blossoming into one of the top left-handed relievers in the sport of the last several seasons — Scott is now seemingly suffering from the opposite problem.

So far this year, more than 58% of his pitches have been in the strike zone, a rate that is easily a personal career high (well up from his previous high mark of 52.4% last year) and ranks 18th among qualified big-league relievers.

On top of that, hitters have been on such offerings as well, making contact on 80% of swings against Scott’s pitches over the plate (compared to his 76% career rate) and averaging almost 92 mph of exit velocity on balls put in play (leaving Scott in the seventh percentile of MLB arms when it comes to batted ball contact).

The good news is that Scott has 25 strikeouts and only two walks. Even with his fastball playing a tick down velocity-wise (averaging 96.1 mph this year compared to 97 mph last year), he converted nine of his first 11 save opportunities, squandering only a pair of one-run leads while posting a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 21 appearances.

This past week, however, Scott was knocked around twice: Giving up three runs on two homers to the Arizona Diamondbacks last week (in another game that necessitated extra innings before the Dodgers came back to win) before his ninth-inning meltdown at Citi Field on Sunday.

“He’s actually been pretty good for us,” Roberts said of Scott’s performance overall. “But the last couple, the last two of three, he’s obviously given up leads.”

Scott said his increased aggressiveness in the strike zone has not been by design.

“I don’t even look at it,” he bristled when asked about his rise in in-zone pitch percentage this weekend. “I don’t even look at it.”

But Prior acknowledged it is something on the coaching staff’s radar.

“Obviously, we want strikes; more strikes than balls,” Prior said. “But he gets in situations where he can get into counts, and I think we’re just leaving too many balls in the zone late in counts, instead of going for more miss.”

Friday’s blown save being Exhibit A.

“I’m not putting [guys] away,” acknowledged Scott, whose whiff rate has also dropped to 26.6% this season compared to his 34.7% career average. “I’m not getting the swing-and-miss, and I’m keeping the ball in the zone too much.”

To Prior, it’s even OK if Scott starts “to walk a few more guys,” he said, “[if] in turn he can get more chase out of the zone when you have leverage.”

“He’s still a really good pitcher,” Prior added. “So we’re going to bank on him.”

Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott throws from the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 20 at Dodger Stadium.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Right now, the Dodgers don’t have much of a choice.

Fellow high-leverage relievers Evan Phillips (forearm discomfort), Blake Treinen (forearm sprain), Kirby Yates (hamstring strain) and Michael Kopech (shoulder impingement) are all out injured. And while Kopech is on a minor-league rehab assignment, and Yates and Treinen are both beginning throwing programs, Phillips’ absence is starting to become “concerning,” Roberts acknowledged this weekend, with the team’s former ninth-inning fixture now going on three weeks without throwing because of an injury initially expected to keep him out for only the minimum 15 days.

“I’m getting a little kind of concerned,” Roberts said of Phillips, “but hoping for the best.”

It all makes Scott’s performance in save opportunities particularly crucial for the Dodgers right now.

Given the team’s MLB-high bullpen workload this year, Roberts has been forced to be selective when it comes to the usage of the few high-leverage relievers still at his disposal. Having Scott blow games in which the team has already burned its best other relief bullets, and could potentially face the added burden of resulting extra innings, are all taxing side effects the Dodgers are not currently equipped to handle.

“To be quite fair,” Roberts noted of Scott, whose 23 ⅔ innings are only fourth-most in the bullpen, “the other guys have been used a lot more than he has.”

Thus, while Scott might only require simple adjustments, such as better locating his fastball up and out of the zone and more consistently executing his slider in locations that induce more chase, enacting such changes quickly is paramount.

After all, the Dodgers made him one of the highest-paid relievers in baseball this offseason to stabilize their bullpen. And lately, he’s instead been one more source of unneeded flux.

PREGNANT Vick Hope showed off her growing baby bump after she revealed she’s expecting her first child.

The Radio 1 presenter and husband Calvin Harris, who tied the knot on their Ibiza farm in 2023, will become parents later this year.

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Vick, 35, shared a photo of her in an orange bikini and an oversized white shirt, with her bump peaking through.

The radio presenter and international DJ Calvin enjoyed a baby shower with her friends and family in Ibiza a few weeks ago.

Vick was also seen staring adoringly at her growing stomach while wearing a flowy turquoise green summer dress.

In another snap, the Strictly star opted for a patterned bikini top and a pair of blue shorts as she hit some balls on the court.

She flashed a big smile and held two racquets in her hand, which slightly covered her bump.

Vick captioned the post: “Touching grass lately: Friends, family, farmyard animals.”

Many fans were quick to share gushing messages of congratulations.

One wrote: “Looking fabulous. This era suits you.”

A second posted: “Beautiful mama to be.”

Calvin and Vick have a stunning 138-acre organic farm in Ibiza, known as Terra Masia.

The Spanish estate produces fruit, vegetables, eggs, and wine, and represents Harris’s shift from jet-set lifestyle to a more rural affair.

A source told The Sun in 2022: “Calvin employs an expert team, including farmers and chefs, but he’s also hands-on, regularly getting involved in planting and other farm activities. He’s truly passionate about the project.”

They also have a 10-acre estate in the Cotswolds, which Calvin purchased for £3.6m in 2019.

Over the last few years a bespoke new mansion has been built on the Oxfordshire site which will become the family’s primary residence.

Architect Ben Pentreath, a favourite of the royals, designed the property which will be completed this year.

A source told the Mail: ” There’s no expense spared and it’s going to be amazing.”

Vick shared her happy baby news live on Radio 1 today, telling Jamie Laing: “I should probably also say this is my final week before I go on maternity leave.”

Jamie told her: “You’re an amazing friend, an amazing person, and you’re just going to be an amazing mum,.”

She replied: “Oh, thank you.”

Vick and Calvin’s love story was a longtime coming, with its origins going back to 2007, when Calvin was in his ‘Acceptable in the ‘80s’ era.

He had a crush on BBC star Vick, but when he worked up the courage to ask her out, she rejected him.

She told You Magazine: “It’s something that we laughed about on our first proper date… 

“We still laugh about it now.” 

Vick later confessed on Capital Radio: “I went off with either Scouting for Girls or The Wombats. I don’t know which. 

“I thought they were going to be bigger, but no, it turns out Calvin Harris was going to turn into an Adonis.”

Despite Calvin’s failed attempt at a date in the mid 2000s, he did eventually get the girl. 

The couple made their first official outing at The Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. 

People couldn’t help but notice a sparkling diamond sitting on Vick’s ring finger – just five months after they got together.

They married in September 2023 at Hulne Priory, Alnwick, Northumberland. 

During the ceremony, the pair shared their personal vows and listened to poems. 

Nile Rodgers and Chic kicked off the reception with Luther Vandross’ 1981 hit Never Too Much, which was followed by songs by Madonna, Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams and David Bowie.

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VICK Hope has kept her pregnancy under wraps for months now – but dropped some major hints that left fans speculating.

The Radio 1 presenter and husband Calvin Harris, who tied the knot on their Ibiza farm in 2023, will become parents later this year.

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Vick shared the news live on Radio 1 today, telling Jamie Laing: “I should probably also say this is my final week before I go on maternity leave.”

Jamie told her: “You’re an amazing friend, an amazing person, and you’re just going to be an amazing mum,.”

She replied: “Oh, thank you.”

But many fans had already guessed that the DJ was pregnant months ago.

Here we take a look at some of the clues that Vick subtly dropped to hint at her pregnancy.

BABY SHOWER

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Vick appeared to celebrate her baby shower a couple of weeks ago as she shared a picture playing a baby shower game – during a meal with friends.

Vick and Calvin certainly have solid foundations to give a baby the best possible early life.

Calvin and Vick have a stunning 138-acre organic farm in Ibiza, known as Terra Masia.

The Spanish estate produces fruit, vegetables, eggs, and wine, and represents Harris’s shift from jet-set lifestyle to a more rural affair.

A source told The Sun in 2022: “Calvin employs an expert team, including farmers and chefs, but he’s also hands-on, regularly getting involved in planting and other farm activities. He’s truly passionate about the project.”

They also have a 10-acre estate in the Cotswolds, which Calvin purchased for £3.6m in 2019.

Over the last few years a bespoke new mansion has been built on the Oxfordshire site which will become the family’s primary residence.

Architect Ben Pentreath, a favourite of the royals, designed the property which will be completed this year.

A source told the Mail: ” There’s no expense spared and it’s going to be amazing.”

VICK’S BRITS LOOK

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The popular radio star looked incredible when she walked the BRITs red carpet in March wearing a plunging dress halterneck satin gown.

The stunning frock also featured cut out details along the stomach, which appeared to show a growing bump.

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant was joined on the red carpet by her superstar DJ husband Calvin Harris.

The couple put their arms around each other and posed for pictures, with Vick beaming at the cameras.

UNDER WRAPS

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Over the past few months, Vick has been attending various events, including Radio 1’s Big Weekender Launch party in March.

She attended the star-studded event in London wearing an oversized plaid coat.

Underneath she opted for a brown mini dress but her winter jacket was pulled tightly together to conceal her stomach.

Earlier this month, Vick shared a post of her recent work highlights.

One snap showed her smiling with Radio 1 co-star Jamie Laing while wearing a baggy grey jumper.

She also posed for a team photo with her new Countryfile family.

Vick wrapped up in a big black puffer coat, cream jumper and grey beanie hat.

In other recent snaps, the radio star is seen sitting behind a desk or wearing oversized baggy t-shirts.

And just a few weeks ago, Vick hosted with Greg James at the London Marathon as they cheered on their co-presenter Jamie.

Vick was seen wearing an oversized white teddy bear coat which kept her bump under cover.

UNOFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT

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Just two weeks ago, Vick shared a photo of her blossoming bump.

Although the star had not officially announced her pregnancy, Vick was inundated with messages of congratulations from celeb pals.

Lisa Snowden wrote: “Congratulations darling. So happy for you both.”

Kate Thornton posted: “Congratulations on your beautiful news.”

Ashley James shared her excitement, commenting: “Omg Vick,” with a string of red heart emojis.

Vick was also seen cradling her bump during an interview with Florence Pugh two weeks ago.

Vick and Calvin’s love story was a longtime coming, with its origins going back to 2007, when Calvin was in his ‘Acceptable in the ‘80s’ era.

He had a crush on BBC star Vick, but when he worked up the courage to ask her out, she rejected him.

She told You Magazine: “It’s something that we laughed about on our first proper date… 

“We still laugh about it now.” 

Vick later confessed on Capital Radio: “I went off with either Scouting for Girls or The Wombats. I don’t know which. 

“I thought they were going to be bigger, but no, it turns out Calvin Harris was going to turn into an Adonis.”

Despite Calvin’s failed attempt at a date in the mid 2000s, he did eventually get the girl. 

The couple made their first official outing at The Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. 

People couldn’t help but notice a sparkling diamond sitting on Vick’s ring finger – just five months after they got together.

They married in September 2023 at Hulne Priory, Alnwick, Northumberland. 

During the ceremony, the pair shared their personal vows and listened to poems. 

Nile Rodgers and Chic kicked off the reception with Luther Vandross’ 1981 hit Never Too Much, which was followed by songs by Madonna, Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams and David Bowie.

BALTIMORE — Horse racing’s biggest prize is winning the three legs of the Triple Crown — the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Three races in five weeks. It’s difficult, which is why only 13 horses have done it in more than a century.

It probably goes without saying that to achieve that goal, a horse actually has to run in all three races. And therein lies the rub.

For the third time in seven years, the winner of the Kentucky Derby is not running in the Preakness Stakes. Many in racing believe that horses aren’t trained, or even bred, to come back and race on two weeks’ rest. Others say it’s not that big of a deal to come back so quickly.

Horse racing embraces change about as well as giving your dog or cat a pill. It can be done, but it sure isn’t easy.

Aidan Butler, the president of 1/ST Racing, which owned Pimlico Race Course at the time, stirred the discussion two years ago when he suggested racing needed to look at the spacing between the Triple Crown races. He thought the sport would benefit if there was at least one more week between the Derby and Preakness. It would have meant that the Belmont Stakes would also have to move at least a week.

Belinda Stronach, chairman of The Stronach Group, the parent company of 1/ST Racing, even called the New York Racing Assn. (NYRA) to lobby the case for changing the dates. NYRA didn’t bite.

In hindsight, Butler thinks it was a case of bad timing.

“In fairness to NYRA, what and when I was suggesting a change, they were moving [the Belmont Stakes temporarily] to Saratoga,” Butler said. “They changed the distance from 1 ½ miles to 1 ¼ miles. And there was the construction at Belmont Park . That’s a lot to deal with. And we’re asking to change the date. I think it was maybe too much too soon.”

While things quieted in the corporate offices, it remained a hot topic on the backstretch.

Bill Mott, the trainer of this year’s Derby winner Sovereignty, ended the speculation early by saying he was skipping the Preakness on Saturday and pointing to the Belmont. Mott also skipped the Preakness when Country House won the 2019 Derby, although the stated reason was the horse developed a cough.

In 2022, Rich Strike, the longshot winner of the Derby, also skipped the Preakness because of the short turnaround.

Kenny McPeek, trainer of last year’s Derby winner Mystik Dan, said on the Tony Kornheiser podcast that he wishes he would have made a different decision and not gone to the Preakness.

“If I could have a do-over, I wouldn’t have gone last year,” McPeek said. “I think it was a mistake on my part.”

This year only three of the nine Preakness starters ran in the Kentucky Derby: Journalism (2nd), Sandman (7th) and American Promise (16th). The Baltimore Sun surveyed all the Derby horses from 2022 to 2025 and found that only 10 of the 67 horses ran in both the Derby and Preakness. That’s an abysmal 15% participation rate.

Michael McCarthy, trainer of Preakness favorite Journalism, would prefer to keep things the way they are.

“I think it’s demanding and meant to separate the greats,” McCarthy said. “I think it captivates the average observer for the five weeks. Sometimes there’s some great stories involved. This year we’re not going to have [a Triple Crown winner], but we’re still going to have a great Triple Crown series.

“Obviously, with the Belmont going to Saratoga last year and this year, it makes for a little bit of a different kind of a series. … I’m a bit of a traditionalist in that way, but I think three races in five weeks is good.”

Wayne Lukas, who trains American Promise, has been around racing longer than anyone. The 89-year-old has won the Preakness seven times, including last year with Seize the Grey.

“I’ve been pushing for a change in that tradition for 20 years,” Lukas said. “But then Bob Baffert comes up and wins [the Triple Crown] twice. So that silenced everybody pretty much.

“I thought that we could run the first Saturday in May and then run the Preakness on Memorial Day weekend … when everybody’s off work and then run the Belmont on the Fourth of July. But in order to get that done, you got to have three race tracks agree. And that’s really difficult.”

Baffert, who won the Triple Crown with American Pharoah and Justify and is running Goal Oriented in the Preakness, chooses to play Switzerland in this discussion.

“I don’t get involved in that conversation because I’ll do whatever [they want],” Baffert said. “We should just take it to Santa Anita for one year. Bring it out there. Don’t need your raincoats. Get a tan while you’re out there.”

Trainer Mark Casse, who has Sandman in the Preakness, has changed his mind on the topic.

“For a long time, I’ve said ‘No, I like the two weeks,” Casse said. “It’s not supposed to be easy. One of the things that drives me crazy is when people say, ‘Well, this is the way we’ve always done it.’ I believe that the world gets smarter every day, and if you stand still, you get run over.

“I think if we’re going to continue losing Kentucky Derby winners because of the two weeks, then I think we got to really seriously look at making it maybe a month and a month.”

Butler brought up another theory as to why fewer horses run the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for 3-year-olds,” Butler said. “When the Triple Crown was the Triple Crown back in the day, that was it for big money races and you wanted to be there. That’s why you had a lot of the Derby horses running back to run for the money. Now, there are so many other opportunities, and two weeks doesn’t fit in.”

The Preakness is considered the easiest of the three races to win. It has a field about half the size of the Derby, which is considered the most difficult of the three to win. It also is 1/16 of a mile shorter than the Derby and 5/16th of a mile shorter than a traditional Belmont Stakes.

Doug O’Neill, when he was campaigning Derby winner Nyquist in 2016, might have offered the best explanation of why running the Preakness two weeks after the Derby is a good idea.

“You’re coming back so quick [after two weeks], you don’t have time to screw them up,” O’Neill said.

The topic likely will remain quiet for 50 weeks until the connections of next year’s Kentucky Derby winner decide to go to Baltimore or wait for New York.