The Los Angeles Dodgers took their act on the road for the first game away from Dodger Stadium this season, slugging their way past the Colorado Rockies, 10-6, on Opening Day at Coors Field. It was a second time the Dodgers participated in a season-opener at the Rockies’ home ballpark.
Max Muncy, Corey Seager and Justin Turner had each gotten off to a slow start through the first week, but they combined to go 7-for-13 with three runs scored, five RBI, one double, one triple and one home run.
Corey Seager’s RBI single gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the third inning and snapped an 0-for-12 against left-handers this season. Muncy’s solo homer in the fourth inning broke a 1-1 tie, and he went on to finish the day a double shy of the cycle.
His blast extended the Dodgers’ franchise record to eight games to start a season with at least one home run. Cody Bellinger added a three-run blast of his own for good measure, blowing the game open and giving him six home runs and 16 RBI, both of which lead the Majors.
Russell Martin also joined in, leading off the sixth inning with his first home run with the team since 2010.
The Dodgers’ active streak of home runs in games to start the season is bested only by the Seattle Mariners who have accomplished the feat in each of their nine games thus far. Both clubs are closing in on the all-time MLB record, which the 2002 Cleveland Indians hold with a homer in 14 games to start a season. The 1954 Chicago Cubs hold the National League record at 13 games.
Moreover, the Dodgers’ 21 home runs through eight games are the second-most in MLB history over that span. The 2000 St. Louis Cardinals hold the record with 23 homers in the first eight.
Kenta Maeda was hardly sharp on the afternoon, but he managed to limit the Rockies to run run despite twice facing a bases-loaded jam. The first instance came in the third when Nolan Arenado stepped to the plate with nobody out.
Arenado’s sacrifice fly tied the game but was followed by an inning-ending double play. Maeda then struck out Trevor Story to leave the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Maeda allowed four hits and walked four over his five innings of work.
Brock Stewart continued to struggle, allowing three runs on three hits, including a two-run homer. He retired just two of five batters faced before being removed in the seventh.
After Scott Alexander issued a walk, Pedro Baez recorded the final out of the inning and also worked a 1-2-3 eighth. Joe Kelly was looking to bounce back from his early-season struggles but was removed after one batter.
Kelly appeared to stop a live-drive comebacker with his glove but it was unclear if the ball may have also struck the base of his left hand or wrist. Kelly made the play for the first out and was taken out after being checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer.
Yimi Garcia surrendered a pair of solo homes run prior to finishing the game out.
