The Colorado Rockies were mutilated by the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night, 12-4.
The Dodgers pulled out in front during the second inning which began with a single hit by Matt Kemp. Joc Pederson later hit a double to center field which advanced Kemp to third base. Yasiel Puig then manufactured a run on a groundout to shortstop, scoring Kemp. Breyvic Valera followed with a single to right field which scored an additional run to put the Dodgers on-top 2-0.
The Rockies answered the Dodgers two runs by scoring four of their own in the corresponding half inning. The inning started with a lead-off single to right field hit by Trevor Story. Story later advanced to second when Ian Desmond was walked. With two runners on, catcher Tony Wolters hit a single to bring home Story and plate the first run of the ballgame for Colorado.
Later in the inning, DJ LeMahieu hit a double to left field, scoring two runs to give the Rockies a 3-2 lead. Charlie Blackmon then followed with a RBI single to put a cap on the four-run frame and scoring for the rest of the night for the Rockies who failed to score any runs past the second inning.
Both teams were silent in the third inning, but the Dodgers did add a run in the fourth when Joc Pederson hit a solo home run to left field. The home run in the fourth would be one of two home runs for Pederson on the night and the first of his four hits.
The next run of the ballgame again came off the bat of Pederson who hit another solo home run, only this time to right field to tie the game. The sixth inning was the last for Rockies’ starting pitcher German Marquez who finished with a line of six innings pitched, allowing four runs on seven hits while walking three batters and striking out eight.
Once the bullpen took over, not only did the game all apart, but the Rockies were utterly obliterated and embarrassed on their home field as the Dodgers scored a whopping eight runs in the seventh inning.
Bryan Shaw and Mike Dunn surrendered seven of the eight runs with Harrison Musgrave accounting for the other. The Dodgers eight runs came on six hits, including a three-run blast from Kemp, a triple hit by Chris Taylor, and a wild pitch thrown by Musgrave. The inning was putrid from start to finish and was the pinnacle of the Rockies recent bullpen woes.
Colorado’s bullpen was touted as one of the best in baseball entering the season; however, they have been just the opposite with a combined 5.03 ERA so far on the season which ranks 25th in the sport.
The Rockies and Dodgers will finish their series Sunday afternoon at Coors Field with first pitch set for 1:10 MST.
