Dodgers 15, Rockies 6: Another big night at the plate powers Dodgers to 37th win

It was a high-scoring affair at Coors Field tonight with the Dodgers maintaining a lead that was too big for the Rockies to catch up. Cody Bellinger got the scoring started early following a walk to Max Muncy with a two-run home run to center field. Three batters later, Gavin Lux smashed a 453-foot bomb to right field putting the Dodgers up 4-0. Josh Fuentes would follow up with a home run of his own in the bottom of the second putting the Rockies within one run at 4-3, but it’s the closest they would get for the remainder of the game. The Dodgers put another 11 runs on the board, totaling 17 hits including Mookie Betts’ 16th home run of the season. The win marks the 37th of the season for the Dodgers, who have the best record in all of baseball. The Rockies, meanwhile, have now lost three in a row and are seeing their playoff chances fade away quickly. They are now four games back of the Philadelphia Phillies who hold the eighth playoff spot.

A night to forget on the mound

It’s a tall order to ask any pitcher to face the Dodgers, let alone at Coors Field. The rookie, Ryan Castellani, got the start tonight, and he struggled to keep the ball in the yard and get it over the plate. Coming into the game, Castellani had been struggling with his control and unfortunately it carried into tonight’s performance. He walked three batters and also beaned Austin Barnes. To compound matters, he gave up two homers in the second inning. He showed poise bouncing back with clean innings in the third and fourth but was eventually chased from the game in the fifth when he gave up a two-run single to Chris Taylor. Castellani’s final line on the night was 4 ⅓ IP, 8 R, 7 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 1 K.

It didn’t get better after Castellani left the game. Jeff Hoffman allowed both inherited runners to score and later gave up a home run to Betts. Wade Davis then made his return to the mound and allowed four earned runs and had to have Tyler Kinley come into the game to get the third out of the inning and bail him out. Kinley and Jesús Tinoco did finally keep the Dodgers off the board in the eighth and ninth innings, but it was far too late to make an impact.

Fuentes in the zone

There is one hitter on the Rockies who is filling the stat sheet just about every day and that’s Josh Fuentes. Last week I mentioned him establishing himself, and now, only a week later, it would be a surprise to see Daniel Murphy’s name in the starting lineup at first base. Early on, it looked like Fuentes was going to make it a ballgame when he drove in three runs with his second homer of the season. He ended the night going 3-for-4 with a homer, 2 R, and 3 RBI. Rockies fans can look forward to seeing his name in the lineup on a regular basis for the remainder of the season.

Up Next

The Rockies will get another chance to take down the Dodgers tomorrow. Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 2.28 ERA) will take on Chi Chi González (0-1 8.68 ERA).