A ROCKY OUTING
Kershaw gives up six runs and nine hits in just four innings at Coors Field
DENVER >> As Tyler Anderson packed a bag in front of his locker in the visitor's clubhouse at Truist Park on Sunday afternoon — the next day's starting pitcher frequently flies ahead of the team when changing cities — Clayton Kershaw did the same in front of his locker.
The veteran left-hander's start was two days away but he also flew to Colorado on Sunday, hoping a little more time to acclimate to the altitude
at Coors Field might help deflate his career ERA there (the highest at any stadium where he has pitched at least four innings).
“Can't hurt,” he said. “We've tried everything else.” Well ... bad news.
In his 25th career start at Coors Field, Kershaw lasted just four innings, allowing runs in each, and the Dodgers lost for the fourth time in five games against the Rockies (all in Colorado), 7-4, on Tuesday night.
“I'm going to go with, just not overthink it and just say I sucked today,” Kershaw said. “Thankfully, they'll let me do it again in five days. But not a lot of positives today, for sure.” There were lots of negatives. The six runs Kershaw surrendered matched the most he has allowed in a start at Coors Field since he gave up nine in 4 2/3 innings on April 26, 2009. The nine hits he allowed were the most he has allowed in any start since Opening Day 2021 ... at Coors Field.
“I don't think I would have pitched well anywhere today,” he said. “Just wasn't very good all the way around. I don't really think about Coors Field. Just try to think about it like any other day. Like I said, I don't think I would have pitched well anywhere today.
“I haven't been that bad in a long time. It was good. Check you where you're at. Remember this game's not easy. Get going again.”
In fact, it had been 106 starts — since June 19, 2017 against the New York Mets — since Kershaw gave up as many as six runs in a start.
“He just didn't have his pitch mix tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It was just an off night. It's bound to happen at some point.
“It was just one of those nights where he didn't have his pitch mix working.”
That was apparent right from the start.
Kershaw walked the first batter he faced, three the first time through the Rockies' lineup and four of the first 13 batters. It was the most walks he has issued since he walked five in a start against the Padres on August 1, 2019.
Nine of the first 15 Rockies batters reached base. He also gave up solo home runs to Randal Grichuk and Elias Diaz and left with a career ERA of 4.81 at Coors Field.
“I thought we did a good job from a team offense perspective,” said Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who had a four-hit game. “We worked some walks. For the most part, laid off some of his really good pitches to get ourselves into better counts. It was a good job top to bottom from our offense tonight.”
The Dodgers' offense at least came out looking more rested than it did during what Roberts called a “pretty forgettable” performance against Chad Kuhl in a 4-0 loss on Monday night.
Freddie Freeman singled in the first inning, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Justin Turner. In the second, Hanser Alberto led off with a home run.
That was about it for the night, though. Max Muncy did hit a 443-foot solo home run in the sixth and Trea Turner a 422foot shot with two outs in the ninth.
“Even yesterday with how we were all feeling, we still hit quite a few balls really hard. We just aren't finding holes,” Muncy said. “That's what I look at. We can obviously do a lot of things better, but we're still hitting the ball really hard. It's just bad luck with it. Just got to get over it, come in tomorrow and play.”
No place in baseball has more holes to find than Coors Field with its expansive outfield. But the Dodgers have managed just 15 runs in their five games here this year, doing their best to ruin its reputation as a hitter's wonderland.
“I don't know. I think before this year we've played really well here,” Roberts said of his team's poor performance in Colorado. “But this year for some reason we just can't win games here. Obviously, we're going to try and salvage a series tomorrow.”