The Los Angeles Dodgers began a 10-game homestand Friday night, their longest of the season and one that will take them into the All-Star break. The Colorado Rockies arrived at Dodger Stadium 5-5 in their last 10 games and on a small two-game losing streak.
Bud Norris’ debut with the Dodgers got off to a rousing start as he picked up a strikeout and retired the side in order in the first inning on just eight pitches. Jorge De La Rosa matched the right-hander collecting his first strikeout of the game as he put the Dodgers away in order.
Carlos Gonzalez and Mark Reynolds both struck out in the second inning before Daniel Descalso slapped a base hit into left field. Nick Hundley was then hit by a pitch, but Brandon Barnes was called out on strikes to end the inning.
The Dodgers didn’t find any success against De La Rosa in the bottom of the second with Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick and Yasiel Puig going down in order.
After another 1-2-3 inning from Norris, Trayce Thompson drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third to give the Dodgers their first baserunner on the night. Nothing came of it as Yasmani Grandal hit into a double play and Norris grounded out.
Continuing with his impressive debut, Norris bookended a scoreless fourth inning with strikeouts. With Chase Utley standing on first base via a leadoff walk, Corey Seager singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Along with it being the Dodgers’ first hit, it also extended Seager’s hitting streak to 14 games.
De La Rosa managed to get Justin Turner swinging, but Gonzalez pulled the first pitch he saw into right field to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Puig later drew a four pitch walk to load the bases with two outs.
Thompson grounded softly up the middle and was ruled safe at first base, which scored another run. However, the Rockies successfully challenged the call and inning came to an end with the Dodgers only leading by a run.
A Descalso leadoff walk was quickly erased by Norris inducing Hundley into a double play. Brandon Barnes’ deep fly ball to center was tracked down in front of the wall for the third out. Norris worked around a Charlie Blackmon one-out double in the sixth to keep the Dodgers ahead.
Norris matched his season high with eight strikeouts and came out after six scoreless innings. De La Rosa walked Turner with one out in the bottom of the sixth then got Gonzalez to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Adam Liberatore walked Mark Reynolds with one out in the seventh and was removed after getting called strike three on Descalso. Louis Coleman entered and retired Hundley for the final out of the inning.
Kendrick and Puig connected on back-to-back singles to put two on with none out in the eighth. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Kendrick scored on a balk. Thompson then lifted a fly ball to left that also resulted in Puig getting thrown out at home plate on his tag attempt.
Grandal kept the inning alive with base hit but was stranded by pinch-hitter Will Venable. Blackmon lined a two-out single to center off Joe Blanton in the eighth, and moved into scoring position by stealing second base.
Blanton stranded the runner by making a barehanded stop on a comebacker. A Seager base hit and Turner double put runners on second and third with one out in the bottom half of the eighth. Gonzalez pulled his second RBI single of the night into right field, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0.
Chad Qualls replaced Gonzalez Germen and promptly gave up an RBI double to Kendrick. Scott Van Slyke’s sacrifice fly extended the Dodgers’ lead to 5-0 before the inning came to a close. Pedro Baez worked around a one-out walk in the ninth wrap up the Dodgers’ third consecutive win.
