Steve Webb
DENVER — Usually, you don’t expect a pitcher’s duel at Coors Field, but that is just what we got. Stymied by German Marquez throughout much of the game, the Dodgers were able to scratch the tying run across in the top of the 8th, only to see the tie evaporate at the hands of Rockies’ first baseman Connor Joe in the bottom of that same frame. Former Dodger farmhand Joe took reliever Blake Treinen deep for a solo home run that proved the margin of victory in the Dodgers 3-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies Saturday night.
Betts throw nearly nabs Bryant
For a very long time, neither team could generate much offense in this usually hitter-friendly park. The Rockies drew first blood on a run-scoring single in the bottom of the first inning from Ryan McMahon. Dodger starter Tony Gonsolin gave up three singles in the inning, the last of which scored Kris Bryant from second base. Right fielder Mookie Betts made a great play on the ball, and threw a strike to the plate. However, catcher Austin Barnes couldn’t hold on to the ball and Bryant scored the game’s first run.
Dodgers can’t solve Marquez
But the story for much of the game was starter German Marquez. Trying to rebound from a sub-par 2021, Marquez was masterful tonight, going seven innings on just 74 pitches, striking out five Dodgers along the way. The lone blemish to his evening was a solo home run off the bat of Austin Barnes that tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third.
Anderson sharp
However, Dodger pitching was looking good all night as well. Gonsolin bent but did not break in his three innings of work. New acquisition Tyler Anderson was first out of the chute, and looked very, very good in his four innings of relief. Anderson has been a starter much of his career, and was slotted for this sort of piggyback role coming out of Spring Training. And other than a hard-luck run in the sixth, it was nothing but goose eggs for the left-hander. With Anderson throwing like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if he joins the rotation at some point in the year.
Dodgers tie it up in the eighth
The Dodgers went into the eighth facing new reliever Alex Colome. Colome, who had a disastrous season in Minnesota last year, didn’t get off to a great start in a Rockies uniform, either. The Dodgers were able to piece together a rally on a bunch of scratch hits. With one out, Gavin Lux got it started with a solid single after another good at-bat. Then Austin Barnes blooped a single into center that put runners on the corners.
Mookie Betts was the next batter, and he didn’t exactly paste the ball, either, but it dropped into left field for a game-tying hit. But that was all the Dodgers could muster. Freddie Freeman flied out to very deep center field for the second out of the inning, and after a Trea Turner infield single loaded up the bases, Max Muncy hit a harmless fly ball to center to end the Dodgers’ threat.
Treinen gives up rare home run
Blake Treinen came on for the eighth. At first, he was looking just as nasty as he had been the day before, striking out the first two hitters he faced. Then, Connor Joe came to the plate. Joe was never a huge power threat in his limited time in the big leagues, and going against one of the game’s top relievers in Treinen, he looked pretty overmatched at first. Treinen got two quick strikes on Joe, and it seemed as if Treinen was headed for a second-straight 1-2-3 appearance.
However, Treinen hung the fourth pitch of the at-bat, and Joe made him pay for it. He ripped a 91-mph cutter over the heart of plate, and it sailed easily into the Coors Field stands beyond the center field fence. And just like that, it was 3-2 Rockies. Reliever Daniel Bard came in for the ninth and struck the Dodgers out in order to end the game.
Rubber game on Sunday
Now 1-1 on the year, the Dodgers will send Julio Urias to the mound on Sunday in hopes of winning the series. He will toe the rubber against Antonio Senzatela, who had his moments last year. Game time 12:10 PDT. Then, it’s a travel day and off to chilly Minnesota for a quick two game series before returning to LA for the home opener on Thursday of this week.
Cans of Corn…
- The Freeman loud out in the eighth inning sent the center fielder to the wall. It would have been out of 25 other major league parks. Ugh.
- Why nobody tagged up on Freeman’s blast is beyond me.
- Justin Turner had the defensive gem of the day in this one, fielding a pop foul off the bat of Charlie Blackmon in the fifth inning. Turner leaned out over the camera well and made the catch before catching himself on the railing.
- After raking in Spring Training, Edwin Rios got a start today at DH. He went 1-for-4, hitting an opposite field single to lead off the fifth.
- With no Chris Taylor or Will Smith, the Dodgers’ offense isn’t what it should be.
- Max Muncy got his first start at second and was unable to find the handle on a potential double-play ball in the sixth, which set up the Rockies’ second run.
- Cody Bellinger struck out twice, and is still in search of his first hit.
- While the Dodgers’ offense is still not clicking, this was a very winnable game.
