Roberts jokes about Cubs' chances of 3-0 rally: 'Teams can't do that anymore'

With his club one win shy of advancing to the World Series for the first time in 29 years, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked to describe the state of the Boston Red Sox at this point in their 2004 ALCS comeback - down 3-0, like the Chicago Cubs are to the Dodgers.

"I think that was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Teams can't do that anymore," Roberts told reporters with a wink and a smile ahead of Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Roberts played a memorable role in Boston's miraculous rally against the New York Yankees. Coming off a 19-8 loss in Game 3, the Red Sox entered the bottom of the ninth in Game 4 trailing. The Red Sox tied it thanks to Roberts, who was inserted as a pinch runner, stole second base, and later scored.

"It was a special group," Roberts said of the 2004 Red Sox. "It was a very lax group but professional. Obviously we were written off, but we did a good job of trying to focus on that game at hand and not getting ahead of ourselves."

The Red Sox walked off the Yankees in Games 4 and 5 courtesy of David Ortiz, and went on to complete the comeback.

"It also takes some luck involved too," Roberts said. "Because I think if you look back in that series, there are a lot of plays and things that could have gone a different way that went in our favor. But, yeah to win four straight games was tough. But it took a special team."

Seeking the sweep, the Dodgers will send left-hander Alex Wood to the mound Wednesday against Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.