ROCKIES OUTLAST DODGERS IN 13-9 VICTORY AT HOME
Rockies end 12-game losing streak to Los Angeles dating back to Sept. 8 of last year
At long last, survival. And maybe a small dose of redemption.
In another chaotic game at Coors Field Friday night, one filled with hits, runs, multiple errors and a 19-minute lightning delay, the Rockies finally beat the Dodgers, 13-9, snapping a 12-game losing streak to the Blue Bombers from Los Angeles.
The last time the Rockies walked off as winners vs. L.A.. was Sept. 8 of last season.
The true heroes of this game were Colorado relievers Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee and Scott Oberg, who limited the Dodgers to one run over the last three innings. McGee was charged with a run, but should have emerged from the eighth inning unscathed. First baseman Daniel Murphy misplayed Max Muncy’s RBI, infield grounder.
Oberg, replacing the struggling Wade Davis as closer, at least for now, pitched a perfect ninth and lowered his ERA to 1.99.
It’s difficult to describe the shenanigans that have been going on at Coors Field of late, but perhaps this statistic from the Elias Sports Bureau will do the trick: The Rockies have both scored — and allowed — at least eight runs in each of their last five home games. That is the longest such streak in the modern era (since 1900), and the longest since the Boston Beaneaters and Chicago Colts each had streaks of six such games in 1894.
“This game was draining tonight, so to win after that, it feels good. It was huge like yesterday, and the last time we were home against the Padres. It hurt to lose those games,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said.
The game’s turning point was this: Colorado sent 13 batters to the plate in their eight-run fifth inning, chasing L.A. starter HyunJin Ryu from the game. Pat Valaika not only hit a two-run homer to break a personal 0-for-30 skid, but he also pulled off the rare feat of getting two pinch-hits at-bats in the same inning. The Dodgers contributed to the chaos by committing three errors, two by shortstop Chris Taylor and one by third baseman Justin Turner.
Valaika was relieved to end his 0-for-30 streak with a home run.
“It felt good, especially it being two runs and getting us closer. That was a big moment and I was happy to be a part of it,” Valaika said.
By batting 3-for-4, Colorado right fielder Charlie Blackmon extended his streak of at least three hits to six consecutive home games, establishing a big-league record.
Plus, Arenado broke out of his June swoon, batting 4-for-5 with a home run and two doubles. Arenado, however, did foul another pitch of his bruised left big toe in the sixth and finished the game in obvious pain.
Starting pitchers were pinatas in this game — and afterthoughts — save for the fact that the Ryu entered the evening with a 1.27 ERA, having given up a total of 14 earned runs in his first 15 starts.
The early Cy Young Award candidate departed with a 1.83 ERA. He got the hook with no outs in the fifth after giving up seven runs on nine hits, including home runs to Arenado (two-run shot in the first), Valaika (two-run, pitch-hit blast in the fifth) and David Dahl (two-run homer, also in the fifth).
Colorado right-hander Antonio Senzatela fared slightly better, giving up five runs on seven hits across five innings. He served up a two-run homer to Alex Verdugo in the fourth.
The first inning hinted at the kind of night this was going to be. The Dodgers plated three runs, aided by two errors by Murphy.
“It was a crazy (game). But we’ll see. I said the worm was going to turn, and that’s why we are going to come tomorrow to find out,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.