Dodgers Recap: LA tops Rox in weird, wet, and wonderful fashion

DENVER — That was, um…. interesting. But in a good way. In a game that had a little more than everything, the Dodgers rode good pitching from Yoshinobu Yamamoto early, took advantage of some rain-induced Colorado mistakes before a weather delay, and then, got some hero time from Max Muncy late to pound the soggy Rockies into submission by a score of 8-1 and take a second straight game in the Mile High City.

This one started EXTREMELY quietly, with both Yamamoto and Rox starter Chase Dollander sending the side down in order in the first two frames. It wasn’t until Tommy Edman cracked a double to left to lead off the third that the game had a baserunner. But that amounted to nothing due to some questionable baserunning by Edman, and the game remained in a scoreless tie through the first three innings. The fourth and fifth were equally as quiet, with both teams throwing zeroes up on the scoreboard.

Then came the weird stuff. In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers got a little something going, with a Dalton Rushing walk and a single from Shohei Ohtani. That’s when the sky opened up. The Rockied managed a couple of outs, but I guess the baseball gods were fed up with Yamamoto getting such little run support. For when Max Muncy hit a high infield pop up into the rain-filled sky, all heck broke loose. Second baseman Thairo Estrada called for it, but in the end, neither he nor first baseman Michael Toglia had any any idea where the ball was. As Rushing and Ohtani circled the bases, the ball plopped into the muddy infield for a “single” that scored two. It was the cheapest two RBI that Muncy’s ever gotten in his career, I’ll guarantee that. Nevertheless, the Dodgers were now and the board and looking for more.

But that more would have to wait. With the rain pelting the players on the field, the umpires had no choice but to stop the game. That ended the night for both of the starters. Yamamoto’s evening was over after just 56 pitches, but they were 56 very good pitches. Yamamoto looked better than he has all month, spotting his pitches and getting outs with efficiency. He’ll get the win with a final line of 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. It was a very encouraging night for Yoshi. He looked himself.

After the nearly 90-minute rain delay, play resumed and the Dodgers quickly cashed in another run on an Andy Pages opposite field single (vote for Andy!). The Rockies got a run back off Lou Trivino in the bottom of the sixth, but the top of the seventh basically ended the game.

After a Conforto single and a couple of walks (one intentional) loaded up the bases, Max Muncy dug in, looking to put the game on ice. He did just that. New pitcher Tyler Kinley got ahead of Muncy on a couple of well-placed sliders to put him into an 0-2 hole. Kinley then threw almost exactly the same pitch that Muncy had just fouled off for strike two. Muncy didn’t miss this one, drilling the ball deep to right field for a grand slam. No big deal, just another ho-hum, six-RBI day. With the granny, Muncy raises his OPS to .829 and raises his RBI total to 51. All-Star Game, anyone?

Michael Conforto (!) hit a homer in the eighth for another run, but it just seemed to be rubbing salt in the Rockies’ wounds at that point. Gotta love it.

Having secured the series win (their fifth straight), the Dodgers go for a sweep on Thursday afternoon, and will be looking to a Mr. Clayton Kershaw to deliver the goods. Kersh is just eight strikeouts short of 3,000. And… stranger things have happened at Coors. Like, this week. Better tune in. 11:10 AM PDT first pitch.

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