The Colorado Rockies dropped their series opener at Chavez Ravine to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a strange 3-1 affair. Both teams were hitless through the first four innings, but the Rockies held a tenuous lead until the sixth. The Dodgers flirted with a combined no-hitter through eight innings, but were unable to seal the deal.
With this loss, the Rockies now sit at a record of 40-104, officially setting a new franchise record for losses in a season. There are still 18 games left to play.
Chasing Quality
For five
innings this evening, right-handed Rockies starter Chase Dollander was enjoying one of the best outings of his young career. Dollander struck out five Dodgers batters, including Shohei Ohtani twice, with two walks and a hit batter. He gave up only one hit—which did not come until the bottom of the fifth inning off the bat of Michael Conforto.
Unfortunately, after walking a batter to start the sixth inning, Dollander left the game with Rockies training staff following an apparent left leg injury. After the game, manager Warren Schaeffer said he was dealing with left knee discomfort.
Dollander gave way to a cold Juan Mejia out of the bullpen, and that walked batter would eventually come around to score. The earned run was credited to Dollander. Mejia struggled in his inning of work, loading the bases with one out. However, he was able to lock things down and end the inning with just the one run scoring.
The Dodgers would finally pull ahead in the seventh inning when reliever Angel Chivilli got himself into trouble by plunking Andy Pages and giving up a double to Ohtani. With two outs and runners in scoring position, a Mookie Betts single to center would plate the go-ahead runs and the Rockies would never recover.
The Glasnow is Half-Empty
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow was named the starter at the last minute before today’s game. He was scratched from his previous start with a back injury, but was given the go-ahead to pitch tonight.
The Rockies had little in terms of answers for the skilled righty, who held them hitless through seven innings on 105 pitches. Glasnow struck out 11 Rockies batters and walked two as the only base runners he allowed.
However, it would be one of those walks that would haunt his otherwise excellent outing. Jordan Beck drew a walk to lead off the second inning and promptly stole second. Back-to-back flyouts from Ezequiel Tovar and Kyle Farmer would bring Beck home.
Rookie infielder Ryan Ritter was able to break up the Dodgers’ combined no-hitter in the top of the ninth with a leadoff double, but the Rockies would be unable to drive in any additional runs. The following three batters hit the ball directly to Betts and Max Muncy to end the game.
Got His Berna-Bell Rung
Farmer’s sacrifice fly was notable because he did not start tonight’s game. Starting first baseman Warming Bernabel was attempting to make a play in foul territory when he hit his head and neck into a metal pole supporting the netting in front of the stands. Bernabel left with trainers and Farmer was called into the game to play first base.
The injury is unfortunately timed for Bernabel, who was just finding his way out of the first prolonged slump of his young MLB career. Bernabel was 5-for-7 with a walk in the final two games of the Padres home series after going just 1-for-32 in the previous ten games.
In addition to the Bernabel and Dollander injuries, Ritter was also removed from tonight’s game. After breaking up the Dodgers’ no-hitter with a double in the top of the ninth, Ritter appeared to roll his ankle while getting back to second when Tyler Freeman lined out to Betts.
Coming Up Next
The Rockies will play their second game of the series late tomorrow night. Rockies righty Germán Márquez will face off against Dodgers righty Emmet Sheehan. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM MDT.
