Dodgers 10, Rockies 4: the pitching Funk Is Back

The Dodgers jumped on Chi Chi González and the Rockies couldn’t bounce back on Friday

The game started rough and pretty much only got worse for the Rockies pitching staff, and the Dodgers ran away with one on Friday as the visitors topped the home team, 10-4.

Dodgers Take It From the Top

With a good chunk of their staff moved around prior to the game, the Rockies hoped Chi Chi González could provide some much-needed stability on Friday. Alas, it was not to be, as the right-hander was jumped on by the potent LA lineup.

Mookie Betts doubled down the left field line to open the game, and after Max Muncy popped out, González lost his edge by hitting Justin Turner and walking Will Smith to load the bags with one out. Cody Bellinger then singled to score two, and a Chris Taylor home run quickly made the game 5-0. González managed to settle down a bit after this rough start, but the hole was a deep one to have to climb out of that early.

The Dodgers scored 22 runs just six days ago against the struggling Diamondbacks, and they’re continuing their offensive outburst in Denver. Chi Chi finished up the day going just four innings and allowing nine hits and two walks en route to giving up seven earned runs.

Cron is Goin’ Off

After falling 5-0, it’d be fair to tuck one’s tails for the day. While the final score denotes a non-competitive contest, there was a point of extreme hype when C.J. Cron got the Rockies back into the game.

Still down five in the third inning, Garrett Hampson and Brendan Rodgers opened the frame with back-to-back singles. A Trevor Story flyout preceded a Blackmon walk, and like the Dodgers in the first inning the Rockies had ducks on a pond with one out. Cron then launched a no-doubter into the left field stands to bring the Rockies within one.

It didn’t last, of course, but it was a great moment for Cron, who is continuing to be a bright spot in the Rockies offense this season. His 13 homers are second-best on the team behind Ryan McMahon.

While the Rockies did threaten at various points after, this was their only scoring inning. Julio Urías (5 ²⁄₃ innings), Phil Bickford (²⁄₃₎ innings and his first MLB hit), Garrett Cleavinger (²⁄₃) and Jake Reed (one inning) combined to shut down the Colorado offense following Cron’s blast.

Young Relievers Turn Tha Party Out

While González’s outing was tough and Justin Lawrence gave up three runs in his one inning, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Colorado’s arms. Brought up earlier today to fill spots due to the aforementioned COVID protocols, Ben Bowden and Antonio Santos threw a combined three innings and allowed just one hit against six strikeouts. Depending on how things shape up in the coming days, these two may be counted on more consistently in the future, so this is a great outing to build on for both of them.

Lucas Gilbreath threw a scoreless inning as well, though he wasn’t quite as sharp as he allowed two hits. Progress though!

Pickin’ Liners

There wasn’t much else by way of highlights in this one, but here’s a nice play by Brendan Rodgers in the third inning:

The win is the seventh straight that the Dodgers own over the Rockies.

Up Next

Game two of the series with the Dodgers takes place Saturday, as All-Star Walker Buehler (9-1, 2.36 ERA) takes on fan favorite Kyle Freeland (1-3, 5.48). Buehler was elected a National League All-Star, but did not appear in the game.

First pitch is at 6:10 PM MDT.

See you then, (Just A) Friends!