The Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t able to solve Chi Chi Gonzalez but took advantage of the Colorado Rockies bullpen with back-to-back home runs from Russell Martin and David Freese propelling them to a 5-3 comeback win. Their magic number to clinch the National League West was lowered to five.
Through six innings the Dodgers managed just four baserunners and had a man reach base only twice. Their futile performance was all the more perplexing when taking into account it came against Gonzalez.
He’d allowed seven runs in just 0.2 innings his last time out, but held the Dodgers to just one hit — a Gavin Lux single — through five frames. Jedd Gyorko’s pinch-hit single to lead off the sixth inning gave the Dodgers their first baserunner since Lux’s base hit in the third.
Gonzalez ran into some trouble in the seventh inning and was removed after walking Cody Bellinger and allowing a single to Matt Beaty. Bryan Shaw retired Kiké Hernandez, only to give up a go-ahead, three-run home run to Martin and solo shot to Freese.
It marked a 16th time the Dodgers have hit back-to-back home runs this season and gave them 247 on the year. Justin Turner added insurance in the eighth inning with his career-high-tying 27th homer.
Already with a franchise record in hand, the Dodgers are now one home run shy from tying the NL mark set by the Houston Astros in 2000.
Before the late magic, much of the silver lining for the Dodgers centered around Julio Urias in his first game back from the restricted list after serving a 20-game suspension imposed by MLB for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
Urias held the Rockies to just one run as he needed just 44 pitches to get through three innings. The start was Urias’ first since July 30, and he’s expected to throw 60 pitches or four innings in his next turn as the Dodgers build up their young left-hander through September.
He exited with the Dodgers facing a 1-0 deficit because of Daniel Murphy’s home run in the second inning, and Nolan Arenao added to that by taking Yimi Garcia deep in the fourth inning. It was the 15th homer Garcia has allowed this season, which ties the Dodgers franchise record for most surrendered in relief.
Arenado’s drive to center field was caught by a fan as he fell on his back. The play immediately drew comparisons to a fan dropping a more routine catch in the same spot during Monday’s game.
Other than Garcia, the Dodgers bullpen backed Urias with scoreless work. After Adam Kolarek recorded the final out in the fourth, Dylan Floro went two innings, and Caleb Ferguson, Casey Sadler went one each.
Kenley Jansen allowed a run to score on a groundout before converting the save opportunity.
