Give the Rockies points for creativity. They consistently find unique and heartbreaking ways to lose.
Their 5-3 loss to the Dodgers on Monday night provided the latest example.
The Rockies took a 3-1 lead in the seventh when Ezequiel Tovar led off with a 431-foot homer off reliever Kyle Hurt. It was a big moment for a couple of reasons. First, it was Tovar’s first homer in 187 plate appearances, the longest homerless drought of his career. Second, Los Angeles’ bullpen had not been scored upon in 11 straight games and had fired 38 consecutive scoreless innings, the longest streak by the Dodgers in the modern era (since 1901).
But the celebration in Colorado’s dugout was premature because the Dodgers scored four runs in the bottom of the frame. Back-to-back leadoff walks by reliever Juan Mejia and a hit-by-pitch by lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino provided the kindling for L.A.’s rally. It scored runs on Shohei Ohtani’s groundout, Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly, Freddie Freeman’s RBI double, and Andy Pages’ run-scoring single.
Key moments: Colorado took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, combining a leadoff double by Tyler Freelman, an infield hit by Troy Johnston, an RBI single by Willi Castro and a sacrifice fly by Tovar.
Who’s hot: Right-hander Tanner Gordon, making his first official start of the season, gave Colorado five strong innings. He allowed one run on six hits, walked one, and fanned three. It was a nice turnaround from his last outing, when he gave up seven runs on 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings of relief vs. Texas.
Tovar’s 2-for-3, two-RBI night provided proof that he’s finally emerging from his season-long slump.
Who’s not: Catcher Hunter Goodman was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, and his average is down to .241. His strikeout rate is 36%.
Edouard Julien, who replaced first baseman TJ Rumfield when Rumfield left the game after getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, went 0 for 2 with a walk. Julien is hitless in his last 32 at-bats and 1 for 38 over his last 14 games.
Worth noting: Rumfield, who got plunked in the right hand by Emmet Sheehan, had X-rays taken at Dodger Stadium. The X-rays were negative, although it’s not known if he’ll miss any time.
Before Monday’s game, Colorado placed left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow sprain. Quintana injured his elbow in Colorado’s 9-1 loss at Arizona on Sunday. In a corresponding move, left-handed pitcher Welinton Herrera was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. In his major league debut, he pitched a one-two-three eighth inning.
Pitching probables
Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-5, 7.04 ERA) at Dodgers LHP Eric Lauer (1-5, 6.69), 8:10 p.m.
Wednesday: Rockies TBA at Dodgers RHP Shohei Ohtani (4-2, 0.73), 8:10 p.m.
Thursday: Off day
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
