Dodgers deal huge blow to Rockies division chances with sweep

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt a massive blow to the Colorado Rockies chances at winning their first ever division title, sweeping the club from Denver in a three-game set, getting the finale by a score of 5-2 thanks to a huge home run from Yasiel Puig.

The offense once again struggled to get anything going. They went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and their star third baseman struck out three times in brutal fashion, giving him five consecutive punchouts in this important series.

Starter Tyler Anderson did his job for the second game in a row, allowing just two runs over six innings of work. He got some help from his defense and pure good fortune on a few hard-hit balls but got the results necessary to keep his team in the game.

The Rockies got on the board in the top of the first, though it looked for a moment like they were going to blow a golden opportunity. Charlie Blackmon began things by extending his hitting streak to 12 games with a single to center. Colorado then caught a big break on a Baltimore chop off the bat of DJ LeMahieu. Justin Turner made a great pickup on a short hop after the high one but was short on the throw, allowing LeMahieu to reach and Blackmon to get to third.

David Dahl followed that with a walk to load the bases with nobody out. But once again Nolan Arenado didn’t look comfortable for an at-bat and struck out swinging after working the count full. Gerardo Parra was able to put the bat on the ball but only managed a weak grounder up the first-base side. Buehler made a smart play to get the force out at home, keeping the scoreboard clean for the moment and forcing the Rockies to come up with a two-out hit or walk away in extreme frustration.

That’s when Ian Desmond unleashed a rocket (108 mph) back up the middle on the very first pitch he saw, scoring LeMahieu and Dahl to give his club a 2-0 lead before Anderson had thrown a single pitch.

The Dodgers struck back in the second when Matt Kemp jumped all over the first pitch he saw, an inside fastball that was blasted into the left-field bleachers.

Colorado missed a chance in the third after another error allowed LeMahieu to reach first base and Dahl ripped a single to right. But Arenado struck out again, as did Parra, and Desmond wasn’t able to come through this time as his comebacker was fielded for the final out.

Los Angeles tied it up in the fifth thanks to a lead-off single from Enrique Hernandez who came all the way around to score on a one-out double into the left-center field gap from Brian Dozier, sliding in just ahead of a good relay throw by shortstop-for-the-day, Desmond.

Scott Oberg, who has been absolutely fantastic in the second half, came on for the seventh inning and got into trouble with a one-out walk to Max Muncy that was followed by a double for Yasmani Grandal. Muncy was unable to score on the play thanks to a nice defensive effort from Dahl in right but that mattered little when pinch-hitter Yasial Puig turned on a slider and launched it beyond the wall in left-center field for a three-run homer, putting the Dodgers ahead 5-2.

Chris Rusin came on to get the final two outs of the frame in quick succession.

Seunghwan Oh and Jake McGee combined for a clean eighth but the offense could not rally, ending the third straight remarkably frustrating game.

Colorado falls to 82-70 and are now 2.5 games back in the division with 10 to play. They stand 1.5 back of a Wild Card spot.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Scott Oberg: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Chris Rusin: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Ian Desmond: 1-for-3, 3 RBI

David Dahl: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 BB

What’s Next:

After an off day, the Rockies head to Arizona for one last series against the flailing Diamondbacks. German Marquez will face off against Zack Greinke in the Friday opener. First pitch at 7:40.