At long last, survival. And maybe a small dose of redemption.
In another chaotic game at Friday night, one filled with hits, runs, multiple errors and a 19-minute lightning delay, the Rockies finally beat the Dodgers, 13-9, snapping a 12-game losing streak to the Blue Bombers from Los Angeles.
The last time the Rockies walked off as winners vs. L.A.. was Sept. 8 of last season.
It’s been a trying stretch for the Rockies. They lost 12-8 to the Dodgers in the ninth inning Thursday night, and fell apart late in two losses to the Padres during the last homestand, which is why third baseman Nolan Arenado called Friday’s win “huge.”
“This game was draining tonight, so to win after that, it feels good,” he said. “Yesterday, and the last time we were home against the Padres, it really hurt to lose those games.”
Thursday night, manager Bud Black said “the worm was going to turn.” Friday night he said, “It was a crazy (game). But we’ll see. I said the worm was going to turn, and that’s why we are going to come tomorrow to find out.”
The true heroes of this game were Colorado relievers , and , who limited the Dodgers to one run over the last three innings to halt the Coors Field madness. McGee was charged with a run, but he should have emerged from the eighth inning unscathed. First baseman misplayed Max Muncy’s RBI, infield grounder, but it was ruled a hit.
Oberg, replacing the struggling as closer, at least for now, pitched a perfect ninth and lowered his ERA to 1.99.
It’s difficult to describe the shenanigans that have been going on at Coors Field of late, but perhaps this statistic from the Elias Sports Bureau will do the trick: The Rockies have both scored — and allowed — at least eight runs in each of their last five home games. That is the longest such streak in the modern era (since 1900), and the longest since the Boston Beaneaters and Chicago Colts each had streaks of six such games in 1894.
There is also this: There have been at least 20 combined runs in each of the last five games at Coors Field, the longest streak by an major-league team since the Cleveland Spiders had a streak of 11 straight home games with at least 20 combined runs in July 1894.
The game’s turning point was this: Colorado sent 13 batters to the plate in their eight-run fifth inning, chasing L.A. starter Hyun-Jin Ryu from the game. not only hit a two-run homer to break a personal 0-for-30 skid, but he also pulled off the rare feat of getting two pinch-hits at-bats in the same inning. The Dodgers contributed to the chaos by committing three errors, two by shortstop Chris Taylor and one by third baseman Justin Turner.
Asked what emotions he was feeling when he belted his home run, Valaika responded: “All of them. It felt good, especially with (the homer) being for two runs and getting us closer. That was a big moment and I was happy to be a part of it.”
By batting 3-for-4, Colorado right fielder extended his streak of at least three hits to six consecutive home games, establishing a big-league record. Plus, broke out of his June swoon, batting 4-for-5 with a home run and two doubles. Arenado, however, fouled another pitch of his bruised left big toe in the sixth inning and finished the game in obvious pain.
“It’s got a heartbeat, but it’s good,” he said.
Starting pitchers were pinatas in this game — and afterthoughts — save for the fact that the Ryu entered the evening with a 1.27 ERA, having given up a total of 14 earned runs in his first 15 starts. The early Cy Young Award candidate departed with a 1.83 ERA. He got the hook with no outs in the fifth after giving up seven runs on nine hits, including home runs to Arenado (two-run shot in the first), Valaika (two-run, pitch-hit blast in the fifth) and (two-run homer, also in the fifth).
Colorado right-hander fared slightly better, giving up five runs on seven hits across five innings. He served up a two-run homer to Alex Verdugo in the fourth.
The first inning hinted at the kind of night this was going to be. The Dodgers plated three runs, aided by two errors by Murphy.
