The Los Angeles Dodgers lineup again erupted behind home runs and a furious two-out rally in the fifth inning to storm to a 13-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on a windy night at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers were first to strike when Chris Taylor lined a two-run homer out to center field. It had a 110.7 mph exit velocity and traveled an estimated 430 feet, which was particularly impressive considering the wind gusts blowing from left to right field.
Michael Grove kept L.A. ahead until multiple missed calls by home-plate umpire Mark Carlson cost him in the fifth inning. Grove retired 11 batters in a row before issuing a leadoff walk.
That was compounded when a would-be double play on a strikeout-throw out at second base was wiped away because of a blown call on strike three. The Rockies instead had two on with nobody out, and Elias Díaz promptly capitalized with an RBI double.
Yency Almonte replaced Grove, only to immediately surrender an RBI single. The Rockies extended their lead when Jurickson Profar hit into a double play.
The Rockies’ 4-2 lead was short-lived as Freddie Freeman’s two-out double and more inconsistency with balls and strikes led to a Dodgers rally. Walks by Will Smith and Max Muncy loaded the bases for J.D. Martinez, who nearly hit a grand slam.
His slicing fly ball to right field was carried foul by the wind, and although it robbed Martinez of his second home run with the Dodgers, the breezy conditions likely prevented it from being the third out as well.
Martinez swung at the next pitch, lining a two-run single just past the diving attempt by Alan Trejo to tie the game.
The floodgates opened from there, with James Outman’s two-run triple putting the Dodgers up 6-4, Miguel Vargas adding an RBI single and Jason Heyward connecting on a two-run homer.
After a Martinez leadoff double in the seventh inning, Outman hit his second triple of the game to further pad the lead. Outman became the first Dodgers player with multiple triples in a game since Yasiel Puig hit three in a road matchup against the San Francisco Giants on July 25, 2014.
The seventh inning also included a scare for the Dodgers as Vargas was hit by a pitch and had his right thumb checked by a trainer before remaining in the game.
Smith capped off the Dodgers’ scoring with a two-run homer to left field in the eighth inning.
Grove ends Dodgers’ streak
Grove being removed in the sixth inning snapped the Dodgers’ streak of consecutive quality starts at four. They entered play leading the Majors in that category.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
