The Los Angeles Dodgers took a lead over the Colorado Rockies for a third consecutive game, only to once again blow it and need to find late offense.
They did so Wednesday night thanks to Mookie Betts’ game-winning RBI single in the eighth inning. The Dodgers scored first in all three one-run games against a Rockies team that showed plenty of fight. Their first win was courtesy of Dalton Rushing’s walk-off single in extra innings on Monday.
Dodgers 4, Rockies 3: key takeaways
Alex Call loses challenges
As the Dodgers were looking to add onto their three-run first inning, Alex Call inexplicably used both of the team’s challenges. He was wrong in the two instances, which resulted in the Dodgers needing to play the rest of the game without an ability to challenge.
Dodgers offense goes cold
Tommy Edman’s single, Freddie Freeman’s double and a walk by Mookie Betts loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning. The Dodgers scored their first run of the night on a wild pitch and Kyle Tucker added onto it with a two-run single.
In just his second career game and first start, Rockies rookie Gabriel Hughes settled in after the shaky opening inning. He proceeded to retire 15 batters in a row after Tucker’s hit. The string was snapped by Max Muncy’s double with two outs in the sixth inning, but he was stranded.
Hughes threw 39 pitches in the first inning alone and only 55 the rest of the way.
Mookie Betts to the rescue
What had been a lights-out Rockies bullpen in July showed a small crack that was enough for the Dodgers to get a series win thanks to Betts’ RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning off Antonio Senzatela. The table had been set by back-to-back singles from Edman and Freeman.
Senzatela entered the appearance 8-0 with a 2.93 ERA this season. The Rockies’ bullpen had a 0.33 ERA this month that was the best mark in baseball.
Roki Sasaki
Having allowed at least six runs in two of his last four starts, Roki Sasaki was looking to get back on track and better resemble the pitcher who was seen throughout most of May. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team addressed some of the pitching-tipping concerns and was optimistic the right-hander would have a positive outing Wednesday night.
Sasaki retired the first four batters faced before surrendering a solo home run to Kyle Karros. That was Karros’ second homer off Sasaki this season, and amounted to four of his nine career homers coming against his father’s former team. Moreover, Karros to that point improved to 4-for-4 with one double and two home runs off Sasaki.
Edouard Julien hit Colorado’s second solo homer of the inning. Sasaki then created his own trouble in the third inning on a leadoff walk and wild pitch eventually leading to the tying run scoring.
The Rockies threatened for more in the fourth inning when they had runners on second and third with nobody out. However, Sasaki managed to escape that jam as part of a stretch that saw him retire nine batters in a row.
Sasaki was much more efficient than his game against the Padres, and the quality start was his fourth such outing this year. Another silver lining was Sasaki’s fastball velocity averaging 98.4 mph on his fastball, which was nearly a full tick up from the season.
Dodgers record after loss
With their win, the Dodgers improved their MLB-best record to 24-9 after a loss this season.
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