LOS ANGELES — When the Rockies last left Chavez Ravine, they did so in shambles. A 5-0 lead over the Dodgers turned into a 12-6 loss on June 25 as two Colorado pitchers combined to throw seven wild pitches and the bullpen gave up eight runs in two innings.
In a four-game series sweep of the Dodgers, finalized Sunday with an 8-1 victory, the Rockies rebounded. They locked down one of the best hitting teams in the National League with a parade of shutdown relievers. Over 16 innings, Colorado’s bullpen allowed just two runs on eight hits, good for a 1.13 ERA.
“How we’ve been playing here, on the road so far, is huge for us,” left-hander said. “We’re feeding off the atmosphere. And the main guys are only pitching when we have to pitch. We have tons of depth down there. It’s been showing in the past week.”
The extra rest afforded by expanded September rosters has allowed Rockies manager Bud Black to use struggling relievers in low-leverage situations while saving the excelling pitchers for key moments.
Take, for example, . He was pitching on three days rest Thursday when he struck out two Dodgers in the eighth inning. He then pitched on back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday, and struck out six batters in two total innings. The Rockies won a season-high sixth consecutive road game.
“I just feel comfortable out there,” Oberg said. “It’s pretty easy to get up for this series. The last couple nights, in playoff-type atmospheres, on the road, against the Dodgers, that bodes well for us going forward.”
Oberg’s rise set up McGee, and others, to lock down late innings. McGee on Saturday set down the middle of L.A.’s order — Justin Turner, Yasiel Puig and Austin Barnes — in the eighth. He walked off the field to a stunned and silent sellout crowd.
“After I was done pitching, I was in the dugout and (rookie Ryan) McMahon was looking around (at the crowd),” McGee said. “For a lot of guys who’ve never been in a playoff atmosphere, this is what it is, when the fans get that excited. Playing in front of 50,000 fans, it’s pretty cool.”
Hurricane issues. McGee’s offseason home in Tampa, Fla., was in an area of forced evacuations before Hurricane Irma hit Florida late Saturday night. Rockies outfielder ‘s home in Miami, too, is in the middle of the heaviest storm surge. Ian Desmond makes his home in Sarasota and lives in Orlando.
McGee and Parra said their families and friends and dogs all got out of the most dangerous areas. But they are waiting to learn of the extent of damage.
Anderson back. The Rockies on Sunday activated left-hander from the 60-day disabled list. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Colorado put reliever on the 60-day DL with what they called elbow inflammation.
Anderson was available to pitch behind on Sunday, what would have been his first appearance since June 25, but he was not needed. Anderson will work out of the Rockies bullpen over the final three weeks.
Footnotes. The Rockies’ Single-A affiliate, the Lancaster JetHawks, scored 10 runs in the seventh inning Saturday to rally for a 12-7 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. It gave them a division series victory and advanced the JetHawks to the California League championship Tuesday, where they will face San Francisco affiliate the Modesto Nuts. … Carlos Gonzalez played in his 1,099th game Sunday, moving to third place on the Rockies’ career list, passing Vinny Castilla. Todd Helton (2,247) and Larry Walker (1,170) are ahead of him. … ‘ grand slam in the eighth inning was his fifth career four-run shot and his first since 2015 when he played with the Cardinals.
Looking ahead …
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (11-10, 3.99 ERA) at Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (16-6, 3.01), 7:40 p.m. Monday, AT&T SportsNet; 850 AM
The rookie Freeland will have his work cut out against Arizona’s ace. But in two games against the D-backs, he has a 3.60 ERA, including a six-inning, one-run effort in Phoenix in April. Freeland’s last two outings overall have been abbreviated, throwing just 7 1/3 innings in total, both losses. And he has a 6.75 ERA in his past three appearances. Greinke’s 16 victories leads baseball after he shut down the Dodgers last week. Against the Rockies this season, Greinke is 2-1 in four games, including a seven-inning victory at Coors Field on July 1. Nick Groke, The Denver Post
Tuesday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-4, 4.07) at Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (9-7, 3.33), 7:40 p.m., AT&T SportsNet
Wednesday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (10-6, 4.27) at Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (13-12, 4.16), 7:40 p.m., AT&T SportsNet
Thursday: Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (1-2, 4.98) at Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (7-7, 3.18), 1:40 p.m., AT&T SportsNet
