Steve Webb
DENVER — Well, there wasn’t much fun about that, now, was there? On a blustery day in Colorado, the Dodgers got behind early (like waaaay behind), and could never get back into the game. They dropped the sloppy, mistake-riddled finale of the opening series of the year to the Rockies by a final score of 9-4. It wasn’t pretty.
Dodgers beset by bad luck, bad winds
At first, it looked like the Dodgers might have their way of it in this Sunday matinee. The first few hitters against Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela hit the ball on the screws. Unfortunately, nothing came of it as baserunners were quickly erased by Rockies’ double-plays. Then in the bottom of the first starter Julio Urias had two on and two out when a Ryan McMahon fly ball to Chris Taylor in left got caught in the wind. Taylor struggled with the wind and the sun. He was able to put leather on it, but it bounced off his glove for a two-run error. Add an RBI single by Randall Grichuk into the mix, and suddenly the Dodgers were down 0-3.
It didn’t get much better after that. Slugger CJ Cron hit a two-run jack in the bottom of the third and Elias Diaz hit an RBI single to make it 6-0 Rox and end the day for Julio Urias. There has been much speculation about Urias’s reduced velocity this year, and indeed it was noticeable during his short stint in the game. Something that Mark Prior and Dave Roberts definitely need to keep an eye on this spring.
Dodgers get some unearned runs of their own
The were able to crawl back into the game almost immediately, thanks to some sloppy play on the part of the Rockies. They loaded up the bases with nobody out in the top of the fourth on a Will Smith walk sandwiched between a pair of singles from JT and Cody Bellinger. Then, after a sacrifice fly from Chris Taylor put the Dodgers on the board, Gavin Lux hit an infield single to load them up again.
Finally, in a little poetic justice, the Dodgers got back the runs that they gave away in the first. Freddie Freeman hit a high fly ball to left, and once again it got caught up in the wind. Kris Bryant seemed to have a beat on it, but like Taylor, he gacked it at the last minute, allowing all three runners to scamper home. The Dodgers had pulled to 6-4. Suddenly, it was a ball game again.
Colorado pulls away late
But that was as close as the visiting Dodgers would get. The Rockies added three more runs to put the game out of reach. In all, not much to write home about in this trip to Colorado. Nice start to the weekend. Not a great finish.
On to the Land of 10,000 Lakes
The Dodgers have a travel day tomorrow, and then a quick-two gamer against Carlos Correa (boo!) and the Minnesota Twins. The Twins dropped two of three to the Mariners, so they too are looking to start putting some W’s on the board. Pitching assignments for the series could change, but right now it looks like Andrew Heaney on Tuesday and Clayton Kershaw on Wednesday. Hopefully, the Dodgers can right the ship before returning to LA for the Home Opener on Thursday against the Reds. Cuz this did not look like the “Greatest Lineup Ever Assembled” this weekend. Not one little bit.
Cans of Corn…
- Cody Bellinger finally got off the schneid on Sunday, getting a couple of hits and a walk in four plate appearances. More of this, please.
- Only one home run for the Dodgers in three games at Coors. Not typical.
- Chris Taylor had a good day at the plate as well: 2-for-3 with an RBI sac fly.
- The Dodgers’ defense has not looked good at all this season. Tighten it up, boys.
- These games count, but they still have a Spring Training feel about them. No need to panic just yet. If the team is still playing poorly on May 1, then we can talk.
