Dodgers Hold Strong in Win Over Rockies
Following their disappointing series loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued their homestand against the struggling Colorado Rockies. Looking to get back in the win column, the Dodgers did just that in a 5-3 win. The Dodgers came into this one scoring just two runs in their last two games. The Rockies haven’t fared any better, as the offense had amassed just nine total hits over their last three games going into this one.
Things kicked off quickly for the Dodgers with Mookie Betts hitting his fourth home run of the year, putting the Dodgers up 2-0 early. This was Betts’s first home run since the beginning of April, ending a two-week drought. It wasn’t long until Shohei Ohtani made his mark on the game, as Ohtani took a four-seam fastball deep to center field, adding another run on the board for the Dodgers. This home run gave the Dodgers their 31st home run of the year, leading all NL teams.
Dustin May kept the Rockies in check all night in a third straight quality start, going six innings, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run. Since returning from injury, May has been more than impressive to start the year. He has pitched 17 innings, striking out 14, and accumulating a one ERA over his first three starts. May has been a surprising bright spot in the starting rotation.
Moving forward to the fifth inning, Will Smith added to the Dodgers’ lead with an RBI single, scoring Betts to make it 4-0. Smith brought another run home in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly. The base hit from Smith in the fifth knocked Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela out of the game. Senzatela finished the game with a stat line of four innings, allowing nine hits and giving up four earned runs.
The Rockies did not go down without a fight in this one, as they tacked on their first run of the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI double from former Dodger Kyle Farmer. Facing a 5-1 deficit, the Rockies made things interesting in the top of the seventh. The Dodgers brought in a struggling Anthony Banda, and the Rockies took advantage, putting two runs on the board via a Hunter Goodman two-run shot to make it just a 5-3 ball game. Banda induced a double play later in the inning to end any potential trouble for the Dodgers.
The Rockies posed a small threat in the top half of the eighth, but Kirby Yates escaped the jam. In came Tanner Scott to close out this one, and it was a rather rough appearance. Scott allowed a pair of two-strike singles, but just like Yates, he escaped the threat, sealing the deal. With the save, Scott records his fifth save of the year. One last note for the Dodgers, after the sixth inning, it was a rather quiet one offensively, as they went two for 10 with runners in scoring position throughout the game.
With the Dodgers grabbing the opening win, Landon Knack takes the bump in tomorrow's potential series winner. Knack is looking to bounce back after a rough outing against the Washington Nationals in his last start. The Rockies will roll out Ryan Feltner, who has been impressive in his previous three starts. Feltner has posted a nearly three ERA across 16 innings.
