Dodgers Clinch Series Win Over the Rockies on Jackie Robinson Day
The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Colorado Rockies for the second game of their NL West matchup on Jackie Robinson Day. The Dodgers were looking to build off a 5-3 win in the first matchup. With a win, the Dodgers would clinch their first series win since April 2nd, where they finished off a sweep against the Atlanta Braves. It’s safe to say the Dodgers were all over the Rockies in this one winning 6-2.
Chris Taylor started things for the Dodgers in this one, knocking in the first run of the game on a double play in the second inning. Will Smith had the biggest hit of the third inning continuing his dominant start to the series. Smith connected on a three-run shot that made it a 4-0 game. Later in the inning, Taylor stepped up for the Dodgers after being visibly upset after his second inning at-bat, as he ended up redeeming himself with an RBI single in the third, giving the Dodgers a 5-0 lead.
The bottom of the third saw the Dodgers bat around the lineup. Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner was pulled from the game once the bases were loaded, with Shohei Ohtani stepping up to the plate. Jake Bird induced an Ohtani groundout to end the inning. After a strong first inning from Feltner, the wheels fell off quickly, as he went 2.2 innings, allowing five runs, walking six, and striking out just one batter. Felter came into this outing with three quality starts and a 2.84 ERA; he now leaves this one with a loss and a 4.82 ERA.
It wouldn’t take long for the Rockies to respond, as they finally got to Landon Knack at the top of the fourth. Colorado had been knocking on the door all game but could not bring any runs across until Jacob Stallings drove in two runs on an RBI double to cut the lead to 5-2. Knack finished the inning without any further damage. His day was done in the fifth inning, going 4.1 innings, striking out two, giving up two runs, and allowing four hits.
Freddie Freeman tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single in the bottom half of the eighth. Tommy Edman had a chance in the inning to extend the lead, having already gone 4-4 at the plate, but popped out to end the inning. As far as the bullpen goes for the Dodgers, they were lights out for a second straight night. Kirby Yates, Alex Vesia, and Luis Garcia all delivered scoreless innings. Yates escaped a jam in his outing, recording his fifth straight scoreless appearance. He has been a key addition to the Dodgers bullpen, providing an effective seventh-inning arm.
Heading into tomorrow’s potential sweep, the Dodgers will roll out Bobby Miller, who will be making his season debut. Miller has posted a 2.25 ERA in three appearances in the Triple-A this year. For the Rockies veteran Germán Márquez gets the ball looking to bounce back from a rough outing against the Athletics. Márquez holds a 4.60 ERA across his previous three starts.
