The six-run deficit was the largest lead Los Angeles has overcome this season and according to ESPN Stats & Info, MLB teams were 1-448 entering today when trailing by six runs or more in the 8 inning.
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The Rockies were on the verge of a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leading by six runs through seven innings in the second game of the doubleheader.
“The pitches that I’ve gotten hurt on have been big misses, and that’s not something that I’ve done a lot in my career”, Hoffman said.
None bigger than Wednesday, of course.
“We are going out of the strike zone and there are some counts where guys are swinging at a ball out of the zone”, Roberts said. “He doesn’t know how good some of these pitchers are. To get them up after being swept”.
With good reason. It wasn’t looking promising. The Dodgers were grounded in the zero gravity of Coors Field with a lethargy developing as the season hit its most critical juncture. Toles capped the final inning with an oppose-field homer off closer Adam Ottavino (0-1) for his first career slam.
Seager stepped toward a pitch from Chris Rusin in the seventh only for it to hit him as he tried to lean away. “I didn’t have my best command tonight, and I really let everyone down”. That was preceded by a two-out single by Yasmani Grandal and followed by a walk to Joc Pederson. But a potential Chase Utley single up the middle was instead fielded superbly by second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who threw out Utley to end the Dodgers’ threat.
Dodgers (74-59): Los Angeles will play musical chairs as Bud Norris not Rich Hill starts in the night game at 5:10PM PST.
Los Angeles scored once in the ninth on an RBI single from Josh Reddick and then loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Toles. The victory assured the Rockies of winning their fifth consecutive series – all in August – against teams now in first place in the National League. They’re the only team in the majors with a positive run differential (plus-26) and a losing mark (64-68).
Rockies manager Walt Weiss then turned to Carlos Estevez. That includes Monday’s starter, Kenta Maeda, who lost despite allowing only two runs in five innings.
“He felt great after, which is obviously everything we cared about”, Andrew Friedman, the team’s president of baseball operations, said hours before the Dodgers’ game with the Colorado Rockies was rained out Tuesday.
Pinch-hitter Stephen Cardullo hit his first career homer in the seventh – on his birthday, no less.
In the opener, Tyler Anderson threw 61/3 stellar innings as the Rockies cruised for their first home shutout.
The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Tuesday.
The Dodgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Hoffman when Utley led off the game with his 12th home run. He only gave up two earned runs on two walks and three hits but Colorado’s bullpen gave up five more runs on two walks and seven hits after he exited the game.
Toles went 3-for-4 with a double, grand slam and five RBI as he raised his average to.397 with 13 runs, six doubles, a triple and three home runs since he debuted on July 8.
“Honestly, hitting two home runs on my birthday is definitely special”, Cardullo said.
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disk irritation) threw two solid innings in a simulated game Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
“With Yasiel, that’s still a possibility, but we’re trying to figure out what’s best for him and what’s best for us”, Roberts said. Also throwing were righty Brandon McCarthy (right hip stiffness), lefty Brett Anderson (blister on his left index finger) and lefty Scott Kazmir (neck inflammation). He took the roster spot of IF Daniel Descalso, who was placed on the paternity list and is expected to return Friday.
This isn’t out of left field – the Los Angeles Dodgers are struggling against southpaws this season.
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Rockies: Following a rest day, Colorado faces Arizona for three games.
