Dodgers 5, Rockies 4 (10): The big hit was M.I.A. for Colorado

The Rockies just couldn’t get enough big hits, going 4-for-20 with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have Albert Pujos, who still comes up with big hits despite being 41 years old. In the 10th inning with the game tied at 4-4, Pujos drove in the 2,150th run of his career and it ended up being the game-winner.

The Rockies had two runners on in the bottom of the 10th, but couldn’t convert any runners to runs. Garrett Hampson missed two bunting chances and the Rockies failed to take advantage of five walks. On the bright side, the Rockies had five doubles, two from C.J. Cron, who finished with three hits, two RBI, and one run scored.

Senza solid early

Antonio Senzatela was impressive in the first half of this game. He moved quickly and sent down Dodgers even more quickly. He only needed 26 pitches to throw three perfect innings. In the fourth, he gave up the first hit of the game, an infield single to Trea Turner, but there was no harm done. After starting the fifth off by striking out Justin Turner and Will Smith, Senzatela ran into trouble as the Dodgers had four straight singles, including an RBI single by Julio Uríus and another from Mookie Betts single that hit off the plate and popped too high to be playable. The Rockies 2-0 lead was quickly erased and the Dodgers tied it up. The Dodgers added two more runs in the sixth on a Mac Muncy double and Smith sac fly to take a 4-2 lead and end Senzatela’s night. Senza’s night ended with a line of four earned runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings.

Fourth-inning breakout

The Rockies got their first hit of the game in the fourth when Garrett Hampson led off with a single. Brendan Rodgers hit a grounder to move him to second, but then Trevor Story flew out for the second out. Then the veterans came through in the clutch. Charlie Blackmon and Cron hit back-to-back doubles to left to put the Rockies up 2-0.

More two-out magic

Down 4-2, Rodgers led off the sixth with a single and he advanced to second on a grounder by Story. After Blackmon struck out, Cron came up big again, hitting another RBI double to cut the Dodgers lead to 4-3. Then it was Elias Díaz’s turn as he dropped in a high, bloop single to right field that Gavin Lux dove for, almost had, but then dropped. Cron trotted home and the Rockies tied it up. This ended the night for Uríus, who had a good night, but wasn’t as dominant as he usually is. He ended the night with the same line as Senzatela, except he had five strikeouts.

Left ‘em loaded

In the seventh, the Rockies failed to capitalize on a great scoring opportunity. Raimel Tapia pinch hit and led off with a walk and Sam Hilliard also pinch hit and singled. Hampson then struck out and Rodgers hit an infield pop up. Then Story walked to load the bases. Unfortunately, Blackmon then struck out to Blake Treinen on the ninth pitch of the at-bat on a 98-mph four-seam fastball. In the ninth, Blackmon also came up with two outs and two on, but he flew out to deep right field. He finished 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.

Lucky bounce

In the ninth, Carlos Estévez entered the game to hold down the tie. He followed two stellar performances by Robert Stephenson and Tyler Kinley, who both pitched scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth while combining for three strikeouts. The ninth started with an impressive sliding catch by Blackmon to rob Justin Turner of a hit.

With two outs, Lux hit a single to bring up Luke Raley. With a 2-1 count, Estévez threw a changeup that bounced several feet before the plate and straight past Díaz. Luckily, the ball came right back to him after hitting the brick backstop and Díaz fired it to Ryan McMahon who tagged out a sliding Lux.

Inning over. Crisis averted. Unfortunately, Lux scored in the next inning for the go-ahead run.

Up next

The Rockies and Dodgers will be back in action at 6:40 p.m. MT on Wednesday when Walker Buehler (14-4, 2.39 ERA, 194 K) faces off against Germán Márquez (12-10, 4.16 ERA, 168 K).