The Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers put forth an offensive display more commonly seen at Coors Field than Dodger Stadium, as they combined for 25 runs and 29 hits, including 11 home runs.
That, along with Gavin Lux making Dodgers franchise history in his MLB debut, ultimately made Walker Buehler a mere footnote. That was welcomed by the right-hander as he struggled through five innings.
“With Walker, I just think the stuff wasn’t sharp,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think if you look at the radar gun, it played, but it just didn’t have that crispness. Whether it be the cut fastball, fastball, and they hit some good pitches. You could just tell Walker wasn’t feeling great tonight.
“You’re going to have those outings, and fortunately for us the offense picked us up. Up and down the lineup. All of our guys took good at-bats and for us to save our ‘pen was big.”
Buehler entered the night having tossed 13 consecutive scoreless innings and a career 3-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 games (nine starts) against the Rockies. He had been dominant when facing them at Dodger Stadium, going 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched across six games (four starts).
“Just nothing really working,” Buehler said after allowing six runs on eight hits in just five innings of work. “Just didn’t throw many pitches that I liked, or liked where they ended up, what they did, anything. Those things happen here and there. Just glad I didn’t cost us a game.
“Obviously our bats kind of came alive, and it’s a team sport, so we’re happy to get a win.”
Monday marked a second consecutive start against the Rockies in which Buehler was knocked around some. He allowed 13 runs and seven hits — both of which are season highs — at Coors Field on June 27.
That came six days after Buehler held them to two runs and three hits, while collecting a career-best 16 strikeouts in his first complete game. While mindful of his struggles this last time out against the Rockies, the 25-year-old wasn’t going to dwell on it.
“We have a job as starting pitchers, and that’s to go a little deeper than I did tonight. Just go through another week and hope we’ll better next time,” Buehler said.
