Joe’s 8th- inning solo home run lifts Colorado past Los Angeles
The Rockies’ Connor Joe tried on Superman’s cape Saturday night at Coors Field. It was a perfect fit.
Joe, who became a fan favorite last season, blasted a two- out, 444- foot solo homer off Blake Treinen in the eighth inning to lift the Rockies to a 3- 2 win over the Dodgers.
Daniel Bard closed out the game by striking out Justin Turner, Edwin Rios and Cody Bellinger in a perfect ninth.
Joe’s heroics salvaged a terrific start by right- hander German Marquez, who allowed one run over seven innings.
Joe’s superpowers were necessary because new Rockies reliever Alex Colome, who pitches at a snail’s pace, coughed up the lead in the eighth.
A one- out single by Gavin Lux, followed by bloop singles by Austin Barnes and Mookie Betts, tied the game, 2- 2. The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman nearly broke the game open with a three- run homer, but center fielder Sam Hilliard caught to ball against the wall at the 415- foot mark.
The Dodgers loaded the bases against Colome, forcing Bud Black to turn to Carlos Estevez for the third out. Estevez got Max Muncy to pop up to Hilliard.
Colorado had cobbled together a 2- 1 lead in the sixth off former Rockies lefty Tyler Anderson. Designated hitter C. J. Cron looped a single to left, advanced to second on Ryan Mcmahon’s grounder, took third on Anderson’s wild pitch and scored on Joe’s single to left.
Marquez, displaying the dazzling combination of a power fastball and sharp breaking balls that made him a first- time all- star last season, allowed just three hits, struck out five, and walked none in seven innings. His lone mistake was giving up a solo homer to Barnes in the third.
Because of the shortened spring training, starting pitchers are on a tight leash this spring. In fact, Marquez is just the fourth starter in the majors to pitch seven innings this season.
But he was so crisp and efficient — 74 pitches, 51 strikes — he was able to carry through for seven innings.
Marquez was the beneficiary of some outfield heroics by Hilliard — though the heroics weren’t really necessary. With Edwin Rios on first and no outs, the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hit a flyball to deep left- center. Hilliard, sprinting for all he was worth, made a diving catch. The thing was, new left fielder Kris Bryant, no doubt getting used to Coors’ huge outfield, was much closer to the ball and could have made an easier play.
L. A.’ s Tony Gonsolin, on a tighter leash than Marquez, gave up five hits in three innings but avoided major trouble by striking out Charlie Blackmon and Bryant to end the second with Hilliard in scoring position at second base. Gonsolin threw 62 pitches, 42 for strikes.
The Rockies took a 1- 0 lead in the first, though it included a tense moment at the plate. Ryan Mcmahon ripped a single to right and Bryant, the Rockies’ sevenyear, $ 182 million man, sped toward home.
Barnes blocked Bryant’s path at the plate but Bryant slid in hard, the ball popped loose and Colorado had a 1- 0 lead.
Barnes tied the game, 1- 1, in the third, ripping Marquez’s 3- 2 fastball to deep left- center.