Lifeless Rockies’ offense falters again against red-hot Dodgers
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Solid starting pitching? Check.
Good defense? Check.
Productive offense? Next question, please.
You guessed it, the Rockies lost at Dodger Stadium, again, falling 4-1 on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The red-hot Dodgers, winners of a season-high seven consecutive games, own a 29-9 record against the Rockies in L.A. since 2019.
The Rockies managed just three hits and were dominated by right-hander Tony Gonsolin, who gave up one run on three hits, struck out six and walked none over his six innings of work. In eight career games (seven starts) vs. Colorado, Gonsolin is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA, 46 strikeouts and five walks.
Colorado was helpless against the Dodgers’ bullpen, and closer Evan Phillips notched his 17th save by striking out the side in the ninth. After striking out 16 times Friday night, the Rockies fanned 11 times Saturday.
“Recently, our offense has been our problem,” manager Bud Black told reporters in Los Angeles. “We have to get a little more offense — that’s an understatement. We have a lot of rookies cutting their teeth and learning.”
The young quartet of first baseman Elehuris Montero and outfielders Nolan Jones, Michael Toglia and Brenton Doyle, were a combined 0-for-12.
Ironically, the game began perfectly for Colorado.
Rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar drove the game’s first pitch — a 91 mph four-seam fastball from Gonsolin — 426 feet to center for his 12th homer of the season. He also hit a one-out double and stole a base in the sixth.
Tovar became the fourth Rockies player all-time to hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game and the second to do so at Dodger Stadium. The others in the first-pitch homer club: Connor Joe (April 25, 2022), Dexter Fowler (April 8, 2009) and Eric Young Sr. (April 30, 1996).
Right-hander Peter Lambert continues to stake his claim at a spot in next season’s starting rotation. He gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings.
The trouble was, three big hits cost Lambert big-time. Will Smith ripped Lambert for a two-out solo homer in the second, tying the game, 1-1. In the third, Kike Hernandez hit a one-out double to center and trotted home on James Outman’s homer to right.
“Peter did a good job of throwing the ball inside, especially to the left-handed hitters,” Black said. “His breaking ball was effective for most of the game. He got (a slider) up to Smith for the first homer.”
Lambert, who’s 2-4 with a 5.46 ERA, told AT&T SportsNet: “I thought the (start) was pretty good. I was able to turn it around after the first couple of innings. The long ball hurt me early.”
L.A. extended its lead to 4-1 in the seventh on Amed Rosario’s solo homer to left off reliever Matt Koch.
The Rockies will attempt to avoid a four-game sweep when the teams play on Sunday afternoon. Over the first three games of the series, the Rockies have a not-so-grand total of three runs, 13 hits and 36 strikeouts.
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