The Los Angeles Dodgers had a chance to build on their half-game lead over the Colorado Rockies in the National League West on Tuesday night, hosting them in the second of a pivotal three-game series.
As was expected to be the case, runs were at a premium with aces Clayton Kershaw and Kyle Freeland on the mound. One swing ended up deciding the game as Chris Taylor took Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino deep with one out in the 10th inning to give the Dodgers a 3-2 walk-off victory.
Taylor called the home run the biggest of his career to this point, which is saying something considering he hit a leadoff home run against Dallas Keuchel in the first inning of Game 1 of the 2017 World Series.
It marked the first walk-off home run of Taylor’s big league career, and it came at a much-needed time with the Dodgers fighting for their playoff lives with just nine games remaining in the season.
Taylor’s home run was also significant as it came on the 12th anniversary of the game that the Dodgers hit four home runs to tie it in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, and then Nomar Garciaparra hit a walk-off home run of his own in the 10th to win it.
While the night belonged to Taylor, Kershaw also turned in another solid outing for the Dodgers. He went seven innings, allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out three and walked five, but was able to work in and out of trouble all night long to keep his team in the game.
The bullpen was also flawless in relief of Kershaw as Kenta Maeda, Kenley Jansen, Scott Alexander and Dylan Floro combined to strike out six in three scoreless innings.
