Rockies rookie Jeff Hoffman (1-0, 5.40) left Thursday night’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers with what felt like a comfortable 10-2 lead in the sixth inning. But there was nothing comfortable for Hoffman, Rockies manager Bud Black or closer Greg Holland about recording the game’s final out. The Dodgers stormed back in the game’s final four innings to force a save situation, but Holland shut the door and the Rockies escaped with a 10-7 victory to earn Hoffman’s first major league win.
Colorado jumped out to a 10-0 lead after four innings thanks to multi-hit nights from Nolan Arenado, Mark Reynolds, Ian Desmond and Carlos Gonzalez. The Rockies chased Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-5, 4.99), but a trio of Dodgers relievers combined to throw four scoreless innings that allowed Los Angeles to slowly chip away at the lead. Hoffman surrendered a pinch-hit home run in the fifth and a run in the sixth before Jordan Lyles allowed Hoffman’s final marker to cross the plate that same inning. Hoffman ended the night with 5.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight. It was his first career win after suffering four losses over six starts in 2016.
Lyles allowed another pair of runs in the eighth, needing Scott Oberg to earn the final out of the inning. Oberg allowed three consecutive hits in the ninth, forcing Black to call on Holland for his 15th save of the season. Holland allowed a single that loaded the bases, but forced Chase Utley into a run-scoring double play before striking out Yasiel Puig to end the game. Holland remains a perfect 15-for-15 in save situations to lead the majors in saves and save percentage.
The win halted a five-game Dodgers winning streak. The Rockies and Dodgers continue their four-game series on Friday night at Coors Field. Clayton Kershaw (5-2, 2.40) faces Tyler Chatwood (3-4, 4.74). Kershaw is tied for the NL lead in wins, with one of his two losses coming against Colorado in the Rockies’ home opener. Chatwood is trying to build off a one-run, two-hit effort against the Diamondbacks on Sunday. First pitch is 6:40 p.m.