Team takes on the characteristics of their manager. There's always a reason something didn't work, they're lifeless with little urgency, and very rarely make the right decisions in the heat of the moment
Lopez would have been fine there as well (I actually don't mind saving the guy with the best swing and miss stuff in that possible situation for the tenth if need be) but Liam's not a wrong choice in that situation. One of the few times TLR has actually been proactive putting the best pitcher out there. Liam just didn't get it done.