The Los Angeles Dodgers were hardly effective in taking full advantage of their opportunities but behind a clutch hit from Will Smith nevertheless managed to come away with a 5-2 win against the Colorado Rockies to set the stage for a rubber match Sunday afternoon.
A couple hours before first pitch the Dodgers announced Corey Knebel would make the second start of his career, which pushed David Price into a role out of the bullpen. Knebel retired four of five batters, but faced the minimum as he got a double play in the second inning.
Price aided the Rockies in manufacturing a run in the third inning as a leadoff single was followed by a walk. Jon Gray’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners and Connor Joe’s sacrifice fly gave Colorado a 1-0 lead.
That wound up being Gray’s final contribution an apparent injury forced him out of the game with two on and nobody out in the bottom half of the inning. A walk loaded the bases, but the Dodgers managed just one run — which scored when Justin Turner grounded into a double play.
The feeling was similar to the first inning when L.A. came away empty despite the first two batters reaching, and loading the bases with two outs.
Trevor Story’s leadoff walk in the fourth was cashed in as he advanced to third base on Elias Diaz’s double over Billy McKinney’s head in right field, then scored when Ryan McMahon grounded out.
The Dodgers again didn’t take long to pull even, this time thanks to Chris Taylor’s sky scrapper staying fair down the left-field line for a solo home run.
The Dodgers went on to strand a runner in the fifth and sixth innings, and after improving to 3-for-3 with three singles and a walk, Trea Turner was backpicked at first base to end the seventh.
L.A. finally managed to break through against Daniel Bard in the eighth inning, with Max Muncy’s leadoff single and walks by Mookie Betts and Justin Turner loading the bases. Doing so a third time was the charm for the Dodgers as Smith delivered a go-ahead two-run single.
AJ Pollock’s pinch-hit RBI single provided insurance, and Kenley Jansen shut the door in the ninth inning.
Dodgers, Giants stay on same page
Like has happened nearly every day during August, the Dodgers and Giants played to the same result on Saturday. Thus, L.A. remained 2.5 games back for first place in the National League West.
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