The Colorado Rockies slugged four home runs, three off Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Charlie Blackmon set an MLB record with 101 RBI as a leadoff hitter in a thumping of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Ryu was expected to have an outing of normal length, but only pitched two innings.
In what was his final audition to be included in the postseason rotation, Ryu allowed five runs on six hits, issue one walk and struck out one.
Nolan Arenado hit a two-out solo home run in the first inning, a single followed, and Mark Reynolds then connected for a homer. Blackmon made history by clubbing a two-run shot to the upper deck in right field.
He drove in another run in the fifth inning behind a single off Tony Cingrani, extending the Rockies’ lead to what held as the final score at 9-1. Prior to that, Colorado scored a run on a passed ball with the bases loaded.
Walker Buehler was the first Dodgers reliever out of the bullpen, and he surrendered a two-run home run to Trevor Story in the fourth inning. Buehler allowed two hits, struck out three and issued two walks (one intentional) over his his two innings of work.
Pedro Baez replaced Cingrani and inherited a bit of a jam in the fifth inning. He proceeded to throw 1.2 scoreless innings, which included stranding a leadoff double in the sixth. Ross Stripling kept the Rockies off the board in the seventh inning, and Brock Stewart followed suit in the eighth.
It made no difference however, as Chad Bettis retired the final 14 batters faced in his seven innings of work. The Dodgers’ only threat came in the third, when Trayce Thompson led off with a pinch-hit single.
Curtis Granderson’s grounder kicked off Bettis’ heel and put runners at the corners with nobody out. Justin Turner’s chopper carried through the left side of the infield for a one-out RBI single, but it was all the Dodgers managed to scratch.
Tim Locastro, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, pinch-ran for Corey Seager with two outs. Locastro is viewed as a candidate for the 25th spot on the playoff roster because of his speed, though he did not attempt to steal in his MLB debut.
The Dodgers’ loss, coupled with the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros each winning, left their magic number at one to clinch home-field advantage in the World Series. The Rockies are now in position to secure the second Wild Card spot with a win on Saturday.
