The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies Sunday afternoon at Coors Field by a score of 10-5.
The Rockies were unable to preserve a 4-3 lead due to poor relief pitching en route to the loss. The Rockies and Dodgers split the series with each club winning two games.
Ahead are takeaways from the loss.
Bullpen squanders Rockies’ lead
The Rockies amassed a 4-3 lead entering the top of the sixth inning. The lead was short lived as the Rockies’ bullpen; specifically, Chad Bettis, imploded on the mound, allowing Los Angeles to establish a daunting lead in the top of the sixth inning.
Bettis managed to strike out Max Muncy to begin the inning.
From there, things started to unravel on the mound. Bettis surrendered three consecutive singles to set the Dodgers up with the bases juiced and just one out.
Bettis then plunked pinch-hitter, Justin Turner, forcing the tying run home. Bettis woes continued as he allowed Joc Pederson to rip a two-RBI single to right field, re-establishing a lead for Los Angeles.
Things did not get any better for Bettis as he allowed another run to cross the plate after Matt Beaty hit an RBI double.
Bettis put the nail in his own coffin by then issuing a walk to Chris Taylor. The veteran hurler was yanked from the game and departed with a line of 0.1 innings pitched, allowing six runs on five hits.
Jesus Tinoco was summoned from the bullpen in place of Bettis and allowed an additional two runs to score before finishing the inning.
When it was all said and done, the Rockies found themselves down 9-4 after the six-run sixth inning from Los Angeles.
Chi Chi starts his first game at Coors Field
Pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez started his first game at 20th and Blake Sunday afternoon.
Colorado signed Gonzalez to a minor league deal this offseason to add depth to their pitching corps. Gonzalez spent a majority of the season down in Triple-A with the Albuquerque Isotopes. The 27-year-old posted a 5.66 earned run average in 14 starts this season in the minor leagues.
Gonzalez was dealing with command issues throughout his start but managed to escape the first and second innings unscathed. The Dodgers plated a single run against Gonzalez in the third inning, but he responded by locking things down in the fourth.
Los Angeles broke through in the fifth inning, plating a pair of runs and taking advantage of a throwing error from Gonzalez that resulted in his eventual departure.
Gonzalez departed with a line of four innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits while walking two batters and striking out a pair in his Coors Field debut.
Wolters continues to hack
Rockies’ catcher Tony Wolters has been stellar for Colorado this season both behind the dish and in the batter’s box.
Wolters has always been known for his defensive mastery behind the plate; however, he has made a name for himself due to his increased offensive production in 2019.
Wolters recorded two of the Rockies’ three hits through the first four innings of play to raise his hit total to 55 this season. Wolters’ 55 base knocks match his single-season career high which he accomplished in 2017.
Wolter has already surpassed his extra-base hit total from last season and is within striking distance of eclipsing his RBI total from last year as well. Additionally, Wolters has upped his batting average this season, posting a .296 mark.
Hey now, you’re an All-Star
During the middle of the Rockies’ game versus the Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball announced the rosters for the 2019 All-Star Game.
Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected as a starter and will be accompanied by three of his teammates in Cleveland, Ohio.
Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story and David Dahl will join Arenado and represent the Rockies at Progressive Field in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 9.
It is the second time in franchise history the Rockies will send four players to the All-Star Game. The first time was in 2017 when former second baseman D.J. LeMahieu and closer Greg Holland joined Blackmon and Arenado.
His latest nod marks Arenado’s fifth consecutive trip to the Midsummer Classic. This will be Blackmon’s fourth All-Star Game and the second for Story. Dahl will make his first career appearance.
The four position players the Rockies are sending to Ohio are the most in the sport.