Steve Webb
Opening the series Tuesday night, the Dodgers welcomed the Rockies. The teams were headed in opposite directions in the standings, with the Rockies winning only 3 of their last 10. The Dodgers, winning 8 of their last 9, welcomed Trevor Bauer for his first start at the Ravine.
The game was an early season pitching re-match of the game in Colorado on April 2nd, when Trevor beat the Rockies at Coors Field 11-6, going 6-1/3 innings and giving up 4 runs and striking out 10 Rockies. Antonio Senzatela, starting for the Rockies, was hammered for 7 runs, in only 3 1/3 innings striking out 2 Dodgers in that outing.
The Dodgers had returning lead off man Mookie Betts. Hot hitting Chris Taylor batting 3rd. and Will Smith catching and batting 5th. Dave Roberts also gave Justin Turner an extra day off with Edwin Rios playing 3rd. Sundays offensive player of the game, Zach McKinstry was given the night off.
All of this added up to the punters making the Dodgers the heaviest favored home team of the 2021 season. The only question resting on everyone including Trevor Bauer, was the ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball inspecting baseballs for foreign substance, WHAT?
Quick Start
Trevor Bauer had a 1-2-3 inning on the top half of the 1st. only throwing 9 pitches. The Dodgers wasting no time in their half with an aggressive approach at the plate. After Mookie grounded out to start, the Dodgers had back to back homers by Corey Seager and Chris Taylor. A very quick 2-0 lead after the 1st inning.
Pivotal Defense
A visibly pumped up Bauer pitched himself into a jam by walking the 1st 2 batters to start the 2nd. An early pivotal play with 1 out, Bauer inducing a pop up down the 1st base line and Max Muncy making a stellar catch. Muncy used the protective netting much like a gymnast uses a safety net. He extended his arms out to make the snag and a pivotal 2nd out. Then Bauer turned his attention on Elias Diaz, striking him out and leaving the two runners stranded on base.
Betts Back
Bauer responds again after a single by Garrett Hampson. Hampson took 2nd base on a ground out by Ryan McMahon. A passed ball by Catcher Will Smith allowed Garrett get to 3rd base. Then Bauer closed the door quick striking out Trevor Story for his 2nd strike out in the 1st 3 innings.
The bottom of the 3rd had Dodger fans back on their feet. A long solo homer by Mookie Betts down the left field line and the Dodgers took a 3-0 lead.
Corey Seager added to his evening with a line drive double to right. Taylor hammered a ball straight into the glove of 2nd baseman Ryan McMahon for the 1st out. Max Muncy flied out to Garrett Hampson. After Will Smith walked, Lux hit a heat-seeking liner up the middle, missing 3 Rockies gloves and added to the lead. 4-0 Dodgers.
Senzatela’s evening ended on the 74th pitch, which should have ended the 3rd. A Pollock grounder to Story resulting in a low throw to 1st. was bobbled and allowed a 5th Dodger run. Story started looking for a place to hide in the Dodger Stadium infield. Bud Black replaced his starter with Jhoulys Chacin, who managed to induce a ground out to by Bauer to end the inning. By that time, the Dodgers were up 5-0.
Muncy Time
After the Dodgers had a 9-batter 3rd inning, the team kept the heat on in their half of the 4th. Corey Seager kept his perfect night at the plate by walking. Chris Taylor singled on a liner to left, and up stepped Max Muncy. Muncy hit a ball to the opposite field gap but not hard enough to get to the track. As the ball was tossed in Seager scored, Taylor was at 3rd. and Muncy trotted into 2nd standing with a double, and it was 6-0.
Max Muncy added a solo homer in the bottom of the 6th to make it a 7-0 game for the home team. The Dodgers, were firing on all cylinders with a total of 10 hits, 4 of which were solo homers on the evening. The only Dodgers not to have hits were Will Smith and Trevor Bauer.
Trevor Bauer
Bauer was in total command after the 3rd inning and showed no concerns as he walked off the mound after 7. He had thrown a total of 99 pitches, 68 of those for strikes. The only hit given up was an infield dribbler to Hampton in the 3rd. and at one point retired 14 Rockies in a row.
More Mookie
Mookie made a great running grab in the top of the 7th. Betts broke on the hit and his run after the grab took him into foul territory pushing off the right field fence.
Cleaning up the final 2 innings, Roberts brought in David Price for the 8th. Price looked sharp striking out 2 of 3 batters for a 1-2-3 inning. Scott Alexander came in for the 9th. After walking a batter, he was able to induce a game ending double play.
The odd makers had it right, with a Dodger 7-0 win. The team has won 3 of the last 4 games with shutouts. Dustin May faces Jon Gray for the swing game of the 3 game set with the Rockies on Wednesday. 7:10 first pitch.
