Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers suffer a loss on Friday night in the series opener of a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the Dodgers came away from the game with more injury concerns.
Scott Kazmir labored through five innings and was removed in part due to a left thumb issue. Meanwhile, Yimi Garcia was unable to get through the seventh inning as he felt discomfort in his right biceps while facing Trevor Story with two outs.
There were some positives for the Dodgers, particularly in the first inning. Chase Utley opened the game with a triple, which was followed by a Corey Seager two-run home run to dead center. Adrian Gonzalez added to Jon Gray’s troubles by crushing a solo home run that reached the second deck in right field.
Gray eventually worked his way out of the first inning, but the Rockies faced a 3-0 deficit. As is often the case at Coors Field, offense wasn’t particularly difficult to come by.
Colorado slugged two home runs off Kazmir in the fourth inning to tie the game. However, Puig’s defensive play in the fifth will forever live in infamy. He came up empty on a leaping attempt to catch a Trevor Story fly ball that banged off the newly raised fencing in right field, but Puig stuck with the play.
He picked up the baseball and threw a cannon from more than 300 feet in right field to nail Story on his attempt to leg out a triple. According to Andy McCullough of the LA Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ranked the play among the best he’s seen:
“As far as degree of difficulty, that might be one of the best plays I’ve ever seen,” Manager Dave Roberts said, adding, “I just can’t think of a player in baseball who can make that play.”
Puig conceded it may be the best throw of his career:
“I think it was my best throw,” Puig said. “I don’t know if it’s the best play. It’s up to you guys.” There were nods from a small group of reporters. Yes, he was told, it was. “That came from you guys,” Puig said. “You guys are going to write it. I didn’t say that.”
One play of Puig’s that may rival his electrifying throw on Friday night is the game-ending double play from his Major League debut. On that June 2013 night, Puig caught a fly ball on the warning track in right field at Dodger Stadium, and doubled up Chris Denorfia at first base.
