Chris Taylor continued swinging a hot bat from the leadoff spot and Will Smith once again delivered for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers took the series to the Rockies and finished 3-4 on their homestand.
Josiah Gray nearly stranded a leadoff walk and stolen base in the first inning but Trevor Story’s two-out bloop single into center field put the Dodgers in an early 1-0 hole. Elias Diaz hit a one-out solo home run in the second inning that held as the difference for much of the day.
Gray did his part to keep the game close despite back-to-back walks being followed by a wild pitch with one out in the fourth inning. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Gray struck out Joshua Fuentes and Jon Gray.
The Dodgers had an opportunity to build on some of that momentum in the bottom of the fourth and appeared poised to at least tie the game when AJ Pollock doubled with one out. That extended his hitting streak to five games and gave Pollock at least one hit in 13 of his past 14 games.
L.A. failed to drive Pollock in as he was thrown out at home plate on Zach McKinstry’s chopper to first base.
The Dodgers erased their initial deficit behind Taylor’s home run in the bottom of the first inning. The leadoff homer was Taylor’s eighth of his career and second this season. He later tied the game with a second solo shot in the fifth inning.
The multi-home run performance was Taylor’s fourth of his career and second this season, with both coming in the past week.
After Jimmy Nelson, Brusdar Graterol and Phil Bickford combined to keep the Rockies off the board, Smith delivered a game-winning solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.
Joe Kelly, who only recently returned from arm soreness, converted the save.
Dodgers lose Betts for week
After going the past week trying to avoid putting Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list, the Dodgers did so before first pitch of the series finale. Betts’ stint is retroactive to July 22, which makes Saturday the earliest he can be activated.
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