The Rockies got down 2-0 in the top of the first inning and the Dodgers never gave up the lead in another loss at Coors Field on Saturday night. Colorado has now lost six of its last seven and four in a row as the 2020 is quickly turning into a forgettable season for the Rockies. Kevin Pillar led the offense with two of its five hits, including a double, but the Rockies couldn’t do much against Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw being Kershaw
Despite the baby hiccup in the first inning, Kershaw pitched like his usual self. He pitched seven solid innings, giving up one run on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Raimel Tapia led off the game with a double that would have been a single without his speed. He then stole third (yes, his helmet flew off his head both times). He came home to score on a sacrifice groundout by Nolan Arenado. That was it. After a Kevin Pillar single in the second, Kershaw retired eight straight batters. Kershaw was able to erase two Rockies from the bases with double plays over seven innings.
Chi Chi was decent, but no match for Dodgers
It started so good. Chi Chi Rodriguez retired the first two batters out, getting Mookie Betts to fly out and Max Muncy to lineout. Then things went south. Justin Turner singled, Cody Bellinger got a free ride, and then Chris Taylor smashed a two-run triple. Gonzalez bounced back with two scoreless innings before giving up a solo homer to Taylor. He pitched one more scoreless inning in the fifth to finish his night. When he left the game, it was 3-1 and he gave the offense a chance, but the Rockies couldn’t take advantage of it.
Three out of four do well in bullpen
Tyler Kinley, former All-Star A.J. Ramos, making his Rockies’ debut after not pitching in the majors since 2018, and Daniel Bard all pitched one scoreless inning apiece. Kinley gave up a walk, but got bailed out by a double play. Ramos, who was just activated today along with Antonio Santos after Wade Davis was designated for assignment and Jesus Tinoco was optioned earlier on Saturday, overcame a Bellinger single and Taylor walk to emerge unscathed. Bard pitched a gorgeous 1-2-3 inning in the ninth.
The trouble came in the seventh when Mychal Givens entered and immediately gave up a solo homer to AJ Pollock. (Side note: The homer was the 100th of the season for the Dodgers, making them the fourth team in MLB history to hit 100 homers by the 53-game mark in a season. The Rockies have 59 homers on the season in case you are wondering.) Givens then got Edwin Ríos to ground out and Gavin Lux to fly out. Then things just got sloppy and ugly. Austin Barnes got hit by a pitch and then stole second. Betts hit an unlucky infield single toward first and Givens and Fuentes couldn’t get to it to make a play, putting runners on first and third. Givens responded with a wild pitch, and despite the ball hitting off the brick wall and bouncing right back to Drew Butera, Barnes was able to slide in and score. Givens then chucked the ball into center field after a failed pickoff attempt of Betts at second because no one was covering the bag. Betts motored all the way home. Just like that, a 3-1 game turned into a 6-1 game.
Up next
The Rockies will play their last game of the season at Coors Field and the last game against the Dodgers (thankfully) on Sunday. Antonio Senzatela (4-2, 3.30) will start for the Rockies while Tony Gonsolin (1-1, 1.51) will be on the mound for L.A.