Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
You would think that an offensive juggernaut like the Dodgers who scored 16 runs on 17 hits Monday night against the Rockies would be able to absolutely own Chi Chi Gonzalez with his 8.07 ERA. Well, baseball continues to come up with ways to utterly frustrate us as the Dodgers mustered just two hits against Gonzalez in 6 1/3 innings.
It took a while but the Dodgers’ offense finally broke through in the 7th on back-to-back home runs from Russell Martin and David Freese in a four-run frame.
Old guys rule.
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Julio Urias returned for his first start since serving a 20-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy and it’s his first start since July 30. Urías pitched three innings and made 44 pitches, 28 for strikes.
His only mistake was in the top of the second when Daniel Murphy hit a solo home run off Urías, flying out just above Cody Bellinger‘s glove in center field. That gave the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Urías has now allowed a career-high seven home runs on the year.
Meanwhile, the first base hit of the evening for the Dodgers came off the bat of Gavin Lux, a one-out single in the bottom of the third. Gonzalez escaped the inning unscathed after Corey Seager grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Yimi Garcia came out of the Dodger bullpen for the top of the 4th to face the heart of the Colorado lineup. Garcia’s home run problem continued. Nolan Arenado crushed his 37th long ball off Yimi to increase the Rockies’ lead to 2-0. That’s Garcia’s 15th home run allowed this season. He now leads NL relievers in the category.
Come for the homer, stay for the catch. pic.twitter.com/AVpkaSqS6o
— MLB (@MLB) September 4, 2019
Adam Kolarek was the next arm to come out of the Dodger bullpen with two on and two out in the 4th. Kolarek went 3-2 to Tony Wolters but got the job done, striking him out with his sinker. Next up was Dylan Floro who faced the minimum in the 5th and 6th.
But Gonzalez kept mowing through the Dodgers’ lineup, allowing only one hit in five innings of work. It was a pretty impressive showing considering the Dodgers collected 17 hits last night. The Dodgers caught a break in the 6th, but failed to cash it in. Jedd Gyorko, leadoff man, reached safely on a base hit to Arenado at third, but Lux, Seager and Justin Turner were retired by Gonzalez in order to squelch any sort of offensive threat by the Dodgers.
Caleb Ferguson became the fifth pitcher of the night for the Dodgers when he entered the game in the 7th. He went 1-2-3 on nine pitches to retire the Rockies in order. Playoff roster appears to be getting close for him.
The Dodgers finally broke free from the Chi Chi spell in the 7th. Bellinger drew a leadoff walk against Gonzalez, and Matt Beaty singled to right field. This spurred Bud Black to go to his bullpen. and Bryan Shaw handled Enrique Hernandez.
He was only a strike away from preserving the shutout. Up came Martin. He used his ‘veteran presents’ and hit a go-ahead three-run dong to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. Then David Freese, another 36-year old veteran, hit a pinch-hit solo homer off Shaw to make it 4-2. The Dodgers have hit back-to-back home runs this season 16 (!) times.
THE VETS LEAD THE WAY. pic.twitter.com/2NoxKkikeM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 4, 2019
Casey Sadler got the 8th. Although a bit shaky with two straight singles to Charlie Blackmon and Murphy, Sadler was able to get out the frame without allowing a run.
Turner hit his 27th home run in the bottom of the eighth off Wade Davis, a majestic shot to left field.
JT, JT, JT! pic.twitter.com/ttAXe3MaZo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 4, 2019
Kenley Jansen got the ball in the 9th, and his struggles reared their ugly head again. He walked Ryan McMahon with one out and allowed a double to Yonder Alonso. McMahon brought in the third run of the night for the Rockies on a Wolters groundout to second, though Jansen was able to put his 28th save in the books after he induced a little roller from Raimel Tapia to end the game.
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The Dodgers improve to 91-50 and 54-18 at home. The D-backs beat the Padres earlier tonight, so the Dodgers’ magic number is now down to 5.
The Dodgers and Rockies wrap up the series on Wednesday night, the second to last series between the NL opponents this season. Hyun-Jin Ryu (12-5, 2.35 ERA, 3.18 FIP) looks to return to form. He’s allowed 18 runs on 15 hits in his last three starts, all losses. Antonio Senzatela (8-9, 6.95 ERA, 5.46 FIP) is 1-0 with a 1.588 WHIP in two starts (11.1 IP) vs. the Dodgers this season.
