Ryan Pepiot pitched well out of the bullpen but the Los Angeles Dodgers had a sloppy afternoon on the bases in a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies in the first game of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Coors Field.
Caleb Ferguson again reprised his role as an opener for the third time in his last four appearances, but failed to make it out of the first inning. Ferguson retired two batters and exited with the Dodgers facing a 3-0 deficit.
Ferguson has a 6.75 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in seven starts this season, compared to a 2.41 ERA and 1.29 WHIP as relief pitcher.
Pepiot stranded an inherited runner at first base and proceed to give the Dodgers six innings. He kept the Rockies off the board until allowing a two-out solo home run to Nolan Jones in the seventh. Although that was the final batter faced, Pepiot set a career high with nine strikeouts.
Pepiot’s performance further added to his case to fill a prominent role for the Dodgers in the postseason. Their pitching plans are unsettled and likely will be fluid, but manager Dave Roberts previously acknowledged the right-hander was earning his way into being part of the plans.
Offensively, the Dodgers were held without a run by Chase Anderson over his five innings of work. They had an early opportunity as Mookie Betts opened the game with a single and stole second base with one out before being stranded at third.
The Dodgers left two on base in the fourth inning and again in the fifth. In the second instance the Dodgers ran themselves out of the inning as Betts did not see third base coach Dino Ebel hold Austin Barnes at third base, which led to a rundown.
Then in the sixth inning, J.D. Martinez was easily thrown out at home plate on a contact play. The Dodgers did wind up scoring in the sixth as James Outman reached on a strikeout and Jason Heyward raced home as the Rockies attempted to make the play at first base.
The Dodgers left two runners on in the eighth and ninth innings to bring their game total to 11.
Dodgers pitching plan
Bobby Miller is starting the nightcap of the twin bill as he looks to generate some momentum heading into the NLDS.
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