Brock Stewart was bludgeoned by the Rockies’ bats in just his second big league start as Colorado crushed the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-2 on a rainy Wednesday night at Coors Field. In 49 home games, the Rockies have scored nine or more runs 12 times.
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But while the Dodgers have made up 4 1/2 games on the Giants since the break, the Rockies have suddenly made up eight games and have gone from 16 games behind the Giants to eight.
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tyler Anderson delivers a pitch to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Brock Stewart in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 in Denver. Reynolds then drove Stewart’s 1-0 slider over the center field wall and just beyond the reach of leaping center fielder Joc Pederson to give the Rockies a 5-2 lead. Earlier in the day, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was moved to the 60-day disabled list, and right-hander Louis Coleman (shoulder fatigue) and left-hander Adam Liberatore (elbow inflammation) were also placed on the DL – giving Los Angeles an NL-record 25 players put there this season.
“It’s not easy. It’s tough on everyone”, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted. I feel really good about how the guys regrouped and came out of the break with a sense of urgency. It’s happened before, so they say that’s a good sign. However, their 25-24 home record is not almost good enough. It was Gonzalez’s 19th career multi-homer game and third this season. Nolan Arenado, Mark Reynolds and DJ LeMahieu also went deep in the win for Colorado, which has won 11 of 13 to move above the.500 mark for the first time since May 18.
The Rockies are just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, and the team will need Gonzalez’s bat in the lineup as quickly as possible to help continue their push for the postseason.
The Rockies are playing the two teams ahead of them in the wild-card standings this week.
Parra closer. Weiss said outfielder Gerardo Parra has been progressing well as he nears a return from a high left ankle sprain that has had him on the disabled list since June 17. “It’s fun when you get wins”. And Chris Rusin, pitching for the first time in almost two months, kept the bullpen intact with three innings, the first two flawless, as the Rockies improved to a major league best 13-5 since the All-Star break.
Later, LeMahieu and Gonzalez homered as part of a four-run fifth to end Stewart’s day.
“I’m a little sore”, Gonzalez said via Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post. “The bullpen session before the game was great”. “Then the game started and everything was flat”. Anderson (4-3) finished with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings. He retired the first six batters he faced but gave up a two-out, two-run double in the eighth to Justin Turner. I’ve got to be sensitive to their usage, trying to get them broken in a little bit, not to beat up our bullpen – but still try to win baseball games. Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (herniated disc) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, making him eligible to return no sooner than August 26.
The Dodgers head into the weekend hoping to have Rich Hill ready at some point with his blister, and hope to have Bud Norris and his tight lat ready too.
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“This is what we as an organization felt was the best for his development”, Roberts said.
