Dodgers domination of Colorado continues as Chi Chi's gem is wasted

After a career-worst performance that saw him exiting the first inning courtesy of a shellacking by a weak-hitting Pittsburgh squad Thursday night at Coors Field, starter Chi Chi González had a fantastic outing for Colorado on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the National League’s best offense.

What difference a week makes.

Twirling a shutout through six innings, González got into his first jam of the evening in the bottom half of the seventh. After a leadoff walk to MVP candidate Cody Bellinger, the 27-year-old righty caught A.J. Pollock looking with an excellent cutter at the bottom of the zone.

A single by Matt Beaty chased González in favor of veteran reliever Bryan Shaw, who quickly got the second out before surrendering a three-run home run to Russell Martin to flip the lead. Pinch hitter David Freese added an insurance run via a solo shot to right center field to make the score 4-2.

In the second, Daniel Murphy started the scoring with a 380 ft poke the opposite way to left field off Dodgers starter Julio Urías for a solo shot, his 13th of the season.

Two innings later, Nolan Arenado extended his hit streak to ten games, hammering his 37th home run of the season to center field with the bases empty to put ahead Colorado 2-0.

While the gem from González was wasted, his performance will not be forgotten. He retired the Dodgers in order through the initial two innings before a double play in the third stranded a runner in scoring position. It was a 1-2-3 fourth against the heart of the order before another quick frame in the fifth.

Los Angeles did not notch their second hit of the game until the sixth inning, a single from pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko.

Down by two, opportunity arose for the Rockies with two outs in the eighth when Charlie Blackmon and Arenado laced consecutive singles to apply some pressure to the Dodgers. Murphy, looking to power his second homer of the game, fell short with a fly ball out to center to end the threat.

Justin Turner tacked on another run with his 27th home run of the season against Wade Davis in the bottom of the eighth.

Colorado made it interesting in the ninth with closer Kenley Jansen on for his 28th save. Ryan McMahon walked and Yonder Alonso added another pinch hit, a double that brought the tying run to the plate. Tony Wolters grounded one to the right side to score McMahon, but Raimel Tapia – activated from IL before the game – was unsuccessful in keeping the game alive.

The 5-3 loss extends the Rockies’ losing streak to eight games and ensures they will not win two games in a road series since taking two-of-three against the Giants in San Francisco on June 24-26, a span that includes three different four-game series.