Four wild pitches. Five runs. One big Rockies loss.
A pair of wild pitches by Adamo Ottavino led to three Dodgers runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday, and the Colorado Rockies failed to salvage the final game of a three-game series in Los Angeles. Two more by Ottavino led to two more runs in the eighth, and the Rockies pitching staff seems to be running out of reliable arms after dropping its fifth straight game to National League West foes.
Ottavino (1-2, 4.94 ERA) entered the seventh inning with a 6-4 lead and two runners on. He proceeded to walk the first batter he faced, then threw a pair of wild pitches that cleared the bases to surrender the lead. Things weren’t any better for Ottavino in the eighth, where he threw two more wild pitches (each allowing a run to score) and allowed a home run to Cody Bellinger – his second on the day. Bellinger drove in four of LA’s runs, logging his sixth multi-home run game of his rookie season, in the 12-6 victory. Things were so bad for the Rockies that Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen hit an RBI double in the eighth inning off Greg Holland. The Rockies closer was forced into action when Ottavino could not finish the inning.
Jordan Lyles and Scott Oberg each pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief of Tyler Anderson, who lasted only 3.1 innings in his first start after returning from the disabled list. Jake McGee was strong against the first six batters he faced, retiring five of them, but could could not get out of the seventh where the trouble started for Ottavino.
Ian Desmond (three) and DJ LeMahieu (two) each had multi-hit games for the Rockies. Nolan Arenado scored a pair of runs, and Mark Reynolds was 1-for-2 with three walks, a run and an RBI.
Colorado has now lost five straight games to teams above them in the National League West standings. The Dodgers hold a 4.5-game advantage over Colorado in the division, having entered last week trailing the Rockies. The win was LA’s 10th in a row.
The Rockies will try to get back to their winning ways agains the Giants in San Francisco on Monday. Colorado is 10-1 so far this season against the Giants.
