The hitter’s haven that Coors Field is can test the most elite of pitchers, which the Los Angeles Dodgers have been reminded of through their first two games against the Colorado Rockies this weekend.
First, Walker Buehler allowed 13 hits and seven earned runs, both of which were career highs. The Dodgers slugged six home runs, including twice going back-to-back, to come away with a win. They weren’t nearly as fortunate with Hyun-Jin Ryu on the mound Friday night.
He was staked a 2-0 lead before throwing a single pitch, but the Rockies immediately responded in the bottom of the first inning on Nolan Arenado’s game-tying home run. Ryu wound up allowing a season-high seven runs on nine hits in just four-plus innings pitched.
After the Rockies had three doubles and three homers off him, Ryu pointed to a greater need of limiting extra-base hits at Coors Field, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I just have to focus more. Especially on trying not to give up extra-base hits to back-to-back hitters. I thought I focused on that today, but obviously it didn’t happen. I’ll have to focus again for the upcoming start if I do start here at Coors Field.”
Ryu’s undoing came in the fifth inning as the Rockies strung together a leadoff double, followed by a home run, single and two RBI doubles. Pat Valaika’s pinch-hit home run snapped an 0-for-30 skid.
For all of his dominance this season, the Rockies have proven to be a bit of a challenge for the southpaw. He limited them to three runs (one earned) in six innings at Dodger Stadium last week, but still entered Friday 4-6 with a 4.61 ERA in 11 career starts against Colorado.
Ryu had been even more pedestrian at Coors Field before his rocky outing, going 1-3 with a 7.56 ERA in four starts. The start was his shortest since going 5.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 20, which also had been the last time Ryu took a loss.
He nonetheless is still 9-2 this season to go along with a superb 1.83 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. Ryu remains the prohibitive favorite to start for the National League in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.
