Scott Schebler had to catch his breath.
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The Rockies are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 1 of a series and 1-6 in Grays last 7 starts. The first issue that came mind for most was “it wasn’t a Dodgers fan, was it?”
“Clayton’s in a groove, that’s for sure”, catcher A.J. “But I gotta tell you, we just want to win”.
The Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series Monday. It was his first time facing the Dodgers as the 23-year-old rookie from Oklahoma entered the game with a Major League Baseball record, seven consecutive no decisions to start his career. Chris Hatcher, practically left for dead a couple months ago with his 6.38 earned-run average and strained oblique muscle, has allowed two runs in 13 appearances since returning from the injury.
With Kenley Jansen unavailable after throwing 33 pitches Sunday, Chris Hatcher closed in the ninth and held Colorado scoreless. He threw 105 pitches, 71 of them strikes. Worry about what’s in front of you. They and reduced their magic number to 12 for clinching their second straight NL West title. Meanwhile, the New York Mets won their eighth consecutive game and remain a half-game behind the Dodgers for homefield advantage in a playoff match.
Monday’s win would not have been possible without the strong start from Clayton Kershaw that the Dodger Stadium crowd of 43,731 expected. It was Schebler’s first career home run at Dodger Stadium and traveled an estimated 429 feet.
Carlos Gonzalez drove in Colorado’s run with a first-inning groundout after a walk to DJ Lemahieu and a double by Nolan Arenado, whose 78th extra-base hit tied Toronto’s Josh Donaldson for the major league lead. And yet Kershaw and Arrieta aren’t close to leading the majors in ERA; Zack Greinke has a 1.61 ERA this season, which represents one of the best showings in the modern era. They had a great game plan. Kershaw walked one and gave up leadoff singles in the fifth and seventh innings but no other baserunners. They were hitting balls hard right at guys pretty hard all night. “Fortunate to get out of there with a win”. Yasmani Grandal’s fly to the wall in left sacrificed Ethier home.
Kershaw: He has allowed more than one run in an inning just once since the start of July.
“Awww – get rid of him”, Mattingly said.
Luis Avilan and Juan Nicasio split the eighth inning without allowing a run.
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Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (9-8) spent last season with the Rockies, going 1-3 with a 2.91 ERA in eight starts before the club bought out the one-year option in his contract in November.
