Tyler Anderson turned in a strong performance in his final start of the regular season but took a tough-luck loss as the Los Angeles Dodgers fell 4-1 to the Colorado Rockies, snapping a four-game winning streak. The result doesn’t have much impact, as the Dodgers already have clinched home-field advantage through the World Series.
The Rockies jumped out to an early lead thanks to Brendan Rodgers hitting a solo home run in the first inning. Ryan McMahon added to it with a two-out RBI double in the third.
Those were the only two runs Anderson allowed over his six innings of work. Anderson tied a career high with 10 strikeouts, which he had previously reached on August 24, 2016, and May 6, 2017, as a member of the Rockies in both instances.
Prior to Sunday, the most strikeouts Anderson had in his first season with the Dodgers was eight, which he accomplished twice.
A downside to Anderson inducing plenty of swing-and-miss was it contributing to a high pitch count.
The effort was also for naught and bested by Germán Márquez. He finished with slightly fewer strikeouts than Anderson — eight — but held the Dodgers to just one run and one hit over seven innings. Márquez was aided by Ezequiel Tovar and Rodgers each making a diving play to take a hit away from Will Smith.
The Dodgers’ lone hit off Márquez was Trayce Thompson’s single that put runners at the corners with nobody out in the third inning. Cody Bellinger nearly tied the game with a second three-run home run in the past three games, but his fly ball was caught at the wall in center field for a sacrifice fly.
After Thompson singled and Bellinger reached on an error in the eighth, Daniel Bard struck out the next three batters en route to converting the two-inning save.
Dodgers bullpen resets
Prior to the game the Dodgers placed Michael Grove on the 15-day injured list with a left shin contusion and recalled Andre Jackson from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Manager Dave Roberts said the hope was for Anderson and Jackson to combine for all nine innings, and they accomplished that to give the bullpen a needed break.
Anderson held the Rockies scoreless over his first three innings of work but allowed two runs (one earned) in the ninth.
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