The Los Angeles Dodgers earned a big victory over the first-place Colorado Rockies on Friday night, defeating them 11-8 in the series-opener at Coors Field to move within three games of first place in the National League West standings.
The long ball played a big part in the Dodgers win, as Matt Kemp was the first to leave the yard in the top of the first inning off Rockies starter Tyler Anderson. The home run was Kemp’s eighth of the season, and the RBI was his team-leading 31st.
Chris Taylor also had a big night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. His first hit was a triple to lead off the game, and his second was a big one as he hit a three-run home run to right-center field that put the Dodgers ahead for good.
Taylor has swung the bat much better in recent weeks, raising his season slashline to .245/.328/.459.
Perhaps the biggest hit of the night came off the bat of Dennis Santana, who made his MLB debut. Santana stepped to the plate for the first time in his career with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning, and promptly pulled a double to left field to drive in two.
Santana was drafted as a shortstop, so he is not completely new to swinging a bat, and it certainly showed.
Insurance runs are always crucial when playing at Coors Field, and that is exactly what Yasiel Puig provided in the ninth inning with a two-run shot to give closer Kenley Jansen some breathing room.
Puig went 4-for-5 with three runs and two RBI on the night, and like Taylor, has been swinging the bat much better as of late.
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