Dodgers rally to split series in Colorado

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It was a giant mismatch on paper for the starting pitchers on Sunday at Coors Field, but the Colorado Rockies actually held a lead after both Kenta Maeda and Chi Chi Gonzalez had finished their afternoon’s.

But the Dodger’s exploded for a six-run sixth, rallying to run by the Rox to earn a split in the series.

The first scoring opportunity of the game came for the Dodgers in the third after a bad omen of Maeda coming up with a one-out single to right.

He moved over to third on a single from Joc Pederson. Gonzalez nearly escaped with no damage, getting a grounder to first that Daniel Murphy fired to second but the relay from Garrett Hampson was just bare not in time, plus Gonzalez dropped the ball, allowing the run to score.

The Rockies had a chance to answer in the bottom half after a one-out triple from Tony Wolters. Gonzalez struck out, and Charlie Blackmon walked, leaving it up to David Dahl with two outs. He hit a hard grounder back up the middle on a 2-2 count but Maeda was able to knock it down, chase it down, and fire to first just in time for the out, keeping the potential tying run off the board.

The Dodgers added to their lead in a frustrating fifth for the home club. First, home plate umpire Cory Blazer squeezed Gonzalez in a leadoff walk to Enrique Hernandez that Statcast suggests should have been a strikeout instead. Russell Martin followed with a single to center and Maeda laid down a bunt.

It looked like Gonzalez might have a play at the plate but he elected to go to first base with the throw. But Maeda took a route clearly on the inside of the basepaths and was struck by the ball. Not only should that have been ruled an out, but the runner should have had to go back to third base. But Blazer missed the non-reviewable (for some reason) play allowing the run to score, Maeda to reach first, and Martin to move up to second.

Now in scoring position, Martin was able to score on a single to left from Pederson. At that point, Bud Black went to Carlos Estevez who got a strikeout and a groundout to first to end the inning without further incident.

Colorado came into the bottom of the fifth having recorded just one hit against Maeda but they had run his pitch count into the eighties and were finally able to strike back. Garrett Hampson led off with a single to right and Tony Wolters followed with one of his own right back up the middle, moving Hampson to third.

Blackmon got some good fortune to go with his extreme production lately, finding his way into a swinging bunt that allowed Hampson to score and himself to get to first.

Then David Dahl provided the big blast, hammering a fastball from former-Rockie Zac Rosscup over the scoreboard in right field for a three-run shot that swung the game in the Rockies favor at 4-3.

It was Dahl’s 12th homer of the season.

Just a few minutes after this moment, Dahl was named to his first ever MLB All-Star Game.

Though, as has been the nature of all the games played between these two teams lately, the Dodgers wasted no time in mounting a response.

And it was a huge one

Chad Bettis came on in the sixth and surrendered three straight singles after striking out Max Muncy, loading the bases. Still one pitch away from getting out of it, Bettis lost the handle on his first offering to Justin Turner, plunking him to tie the game.

Then Pederson pulled one through the right side for another single, Matt Beaty doubled into the left-center field gap and Chris Taylor walked, prompting Bud Black to go to rookie Jesus Tinoco who was greeted by a run-scoring force out from Bellinger and a single for Muncy.

By the time the dust had settled, the Dodgers had taken a commanding 9-4 lead despite trailing going into the inning.

Los Angeles added one more against Tinoco in the eighth and Blackmon blasted his 20th home run of the season in the ninth to make the final 10-5.

The series split may be disappointing for them in many ways, especially after being swept in LA last week, but Colorado still sits in postseason position with a 44-40 record that has them tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second Wild Card spot.

After a much-needed off day, the Rockies will face the Houston Astros in a two-game set at Coors Field on Tuesday and Wednesday.