Game 1: Rockies 4, Dodgers 11- Kyle Kendrick and the Rox were steamrolled by Los Angeles in game one of the series. The Dodgers racked up 18 hits in the rout. After the Dodgers got on the board early in the second inning to make the score 2-0, Colorado answered in the fourth with two runs of its own, thanks to third baseman Nolan Arenado’s 13th home run, a two run shot to center field. Those two runs would be all the Rox would get off Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw. The game stayed tied until the sixth inning when the Dodgers spoiled an otherwise respectable start by Kendrick. He recorded only one out in the inning and gave up four hits and four runs, three of which were earned. He would exit after 5? innings pitched and earned the loss in the contest. The Rockies’ bullpen was roughed up in the loss as well. Christian Friedrich, who relieved Kendrick, surrendered three hits and two runs while recording only one out. Christian Bergman came in to pitch the eighth inning and gave up a three run homer to the Dodgers’ Howie Kendrick to make the score 11-2. The Rox would score two of their own in their half of the eighth courtesy of an RBI groundout by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and an RBI single by first baseman WIlin Rosario, but it was not enough, as the Rockies lost by a considerable margin.
Game 2 (Game one of doubleheader): Rockies 6, Dodgers 3: Colorado took game one of Tuesday’s doubleheader thanks to the middle of the batting lineup. The Rockies’ four, five, six, and seven hole hitters (Arenado, Ben Paulsen, Michael McKenry, and Daniel Descalso) went a combined 8-16 with five runs scored and all six of the Rockies’ RBIs. McKenry accounted for half of the runners plated. He hit a two run shot in the fourth inning and later had an RBI double in the fifth. Jorge de la Rosa took the mound for the Rox, and went six innings, surrendering three runs on four hits. He walked four and punched out six batters en route to his second win of the season. After de la Rosa exited, the bullpen held strong for the remaining three innings. The Dodgers would manage only one hit over those last three innings, a single in the ninth off closer John Axford. But the baserunner in the ninth was a mere bump in the road for Axford, who earned his tenth save in as many save opportunities.
Game 3 (Game two of doubleheader): Rockies 8, Dodgers 9- The Rox couldn’t hold a late lead, as the Dodgers scored four in the ninth off reliever Rafael Betancourt to slip ahead and rally to victory. Colorado called upon David Hale to take the mound and he pitched decently, allowing four runs over six innings of work. He walked none and struck out five but surrendered three home runs while on the mound. He would earn a no decision in the contest. Down 4-0 in the bottom of the third, the Rockies rallied behind a sacrifice fly by outfielder Charlie Blackmon which scored catcher Nick Hundley. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu followed him with an RBI single to center field to score left fielder Brandon Barnes. Hale settled down, and the Rox began to chip away at the deficit. With the bases loaded in the fourth, Hundley hit into a force out which allowed outfielder Carlos Gonzalez to score. The Rockies took the lead in the sixth, courtesy of an RBI double by Hundley to score Paulsen. Barnes came up next and plated Hundley with an RBI single of his own. The Dodgers tied things up in the seventh, but Colorado answered and scored two runs in their half of the seventh thanks to a two run shot off the bat of Tulowitzki. The Rox would score their final run in the eighth on another RBI single by Barnes to score Hundley, who had doubled. With the score 8-5 and wanting to rest Axford, who had closed the night before, Betancourt was put in to close the door on the Dodgers. Instead, he allowed three straight singles to load the bases. But he then struck out two in a row. With two outs and down to the final strike, Dodgers rookie Alex Guerrero blasted a grand slam to center field to make the score 9-8. The Rockies managed to get Gonzalez to third in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally fell short and CarGo was stranded.
Game 4: Rockies 7, Dodgers 6- The Rockies followed Tuesday’s last minute win by the Dodgers with a ninth inning rally of their own in the final game of the series. Chad Bettis took the mound for the Rockies and had another good start, giving up one earned run over six innings. He walked three and struck out five in the game, earning a no decision. Tulowitzki was the real hero of the game, though. He went 2-4 with five RBIs. He got the Rox on board in the first with an RBI single and later hit a three run homer in the fifth inning to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead. The Dodgers fought back, getting three runs off of Friedrich in the seventh after he came in to replace Bettis. Los Angeles would get another run in the eighth off of reliever Scott Oberg. Axford came into the ninth and pitched a scoreless frame. With the score 6-4 headed into the bottom of the ninth, the Rockies were in need of a rally. And that’s exactly what happened. McKenry led off with a single and Blackmon followed with a double to move him to third. LeMahieu walked to load the bases for Tulo, who also walked, which allowed McKenry to score. With CarGo batting, a passed ball allowed Blackmon to score to tie the game. But the Rox weren’t settling for extra innings. Arenado hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored LeMahieu and Colorado won the game in spectacular fashion, 7-6.
Series Positives: Troy Tulowitzki is heating up. He went 5-12 with two home runs and eight RBIs in the series. CarGo is also slowly but surely getting better at the plate. He’s raised his average to .227, and went 3-5 in game two of the doubleheader. Finally, closer John Axford has been lights out this season. He’s earned 10 saves this season and has not failed to convert one yet. With an 0.56 ERA, opposing teams have gotten little to nothing from the Ax Man this year.
A few weeks ago it looked like the nails were being hit into the coffin for the Rockies. But they have rallied and now are very close to emerging from the bottom of the barrel of the NL West.
Series Negatives: In the four game series, no Rockies starter made it past the sixth inning. The Longevity of starts has been a problem for Colorado all season, and although having a started go six innings isn’t terrible, giving the middle relievers some rest would be favorable. With the dog days of summer upon us, the bullpen could do well with some rest.
Contact CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo
