Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers are barely clinging on to their hopes of winning the NL West after yesterday’s loss to the Rockies, and things seemed bleak late into this afternoon’s game. However, the Dodgers mounted a late comeback in the final two innings and took the lead in the 10th in a 7-5 victory.
Max Scherzer surprisingly struggled, but Trea Turner and Max Muncy sparked the comeback to bail him out.
The Dodgers have seen Kyle Freeland a bunch over the years, and got off on the right foot today, striking first in the 2nd. AJ Pollock started the rally with a double, an Austin Barnes single plated him, a Gavin Lux single insured the rally continued, and then they both executed a double steal. After back-to-back strikeouts, Corey Seager cashed the runners in with a bloop single to right to make it 3-0.
Normally with Max Scherzer on the mound that would be about game over. But this is Coors Field and this is the Dodgers, so the Rockies immediately stormed back with three singles and a double, including a two-out two-run single from Freeland, to tie the game at 3-3.
The 5th was an inning of contrasts, as the Dodgers got back-to-back singles to start and then the heart of their order popped out to right and grounded into a double play. Meanwhile, Scherzer walked Freeland to start the 5th then gave up a no-doubter to Raimel Tapia to make it 5-3.
That was it for Scherzer after five, and doing their jobs in relief were Joe Kelly and David Price for an inning each to at least keep it within reach.
After six from Freeland, Daniel Bard got a scoreless 7th for the Rockies. Jhoulys Chacin was next up, giving up a lead-off single and stolen base to Trea Turner, but also getting two harmless outs. AJ Pollock then bailed the bats out a bit by at least driving a run home with a double to right-center, cutting the deficit to 5-4.
Phil Bickford and Justin Bruihl combined to barely get a scoreless 8th, and Carlos Estevez looked to make quick work of the Dodgers with two outs to start the 9th. But then Mookie Betts singled and Corey Seager reached on an infield single and the rally was on, with Trea capitalizing with a ground-ball through the left side that tied the game at 5-5.
TIE GAME. pic.twitter.com/v20ePv31OB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 23, 2021
Kenley Jansen looked to send things into extras for the Dodgers, giving up a single to start but getting three outs in a row.
Lucas Gilbreath started the bonus festivities nicely by giving up a two-run bomb to Muncy to give the Dodgers a 7-5 lead.
That left things up to Blake Treinen and his Ivermectin ball. While he did issue a walk to add excitement to the game, he also got a fly out and a double play to end it from right-handed Barry Bonds AKA C.J. Cron.
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98-55 on the year.
Dodgers will travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks next in a series they must sweep starting at 3:40 PM HT/6:40 PM PT/9:40 PM ET. Tony Gonsolin faces Humberto Castellanos, who probably no hits them.
