Jon Gray being forced to come out in the sixth inning because of cramping wound up turning momentum for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who earned a 6-5 comeback win over the Colorado Rockies. The victory was their second in a row and has L.A. in position to take the series on Sunday.
Gray stranded a pair of runners in the first inning and went on to retire 11 in a row before allowing a one-out single to Edwin Rios in the fifth. Austin Barnes followed with a base hit of his own, and Walker Buehler’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners but Gray escaped the trouble.
His final pitch of the night wound up resulting in a Corey Seager leadoff double in the sixth. Rockies manager Bud Black and trainers visited Gray on the mound, who came out after a lengthy conversation.
The Dodgers rallied with two outs against Yency Almonte, scoring their first run on Max Muncy’s jam shot that went off Josh Fuentes’ glove and into left field for a base hit. After Edwin Rios was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Austin Barnes delivered a two-run single that put L.A. ahead.
Gavin Lux’s leadoff triple in the seventh was followed by Seager hitting an RBI single that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2. Blake Treinen surrendered a game-tying home run in the bottom half of the inning, but the Dodgers responded in the eighth.
In fitting fashion considering what transpired at Coors Field so far in the series, their first home run of the season was one that did not leave the park. Raimel Tapia nearly made another spectacular catch at the fence but lost control of it and Zach McKinstry raced around for an inside-the-park home run.
McKinstry became the first Dodgers player to hit an inside-the-park home run for his first career homer since Duke Snider in 1948. The home run was also McKinstry’s first of his young career.
While a notable highlight, it was Chris Taylor’s two-out RBI double that wound up proving to be the difference.
Victor Gonzalez failed to make it through a back-to-back as he allowed an RBI double to Trevor Story and exited with two on in the bottom of the eighth. Kenley Jansen entered to convert a five-out save.
Buehler has productive 2021 debut
The Rockies’ first threat came in the second inning when Charlie Blackmon led off with a double. Walker Buehler retired the next three batters to get through the frame unscathed, and he picked up two quick outs in the third as well.
Tapia then took a hanging breaking ball and deposited it into right-center field for a solo home run that broke up the scoreless tie. Colorado struck again with two outs in the fourth inning when C.J. Cron’s base hit was followed by an RBI double from Ryan McMahon.
Buehler wound up getting through six innings with just the two runs allowed.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, participate in our shows and giveaways, and more!
