Ryu Serious: Rockies barrel up Dodgers

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies are 10 games above .500, this is the first time since September 27, 2010. They spanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-7 in game one of a four-game set. Once again the Rockies are in first place and they just put down a statement on the class on the National League West.

Jeff Hoffman, one of, if not the top pitching prospect for Colorado made his season starting debut after a call-up earlier in the day from Triple-A. He was downright nasty, striking out seven through three innings, he would finish with eight put downs on the night.

Hoffman got his best run support in his young career as the offense exploded on a bullet-bitting Hyun-Jin Ryu. The Rockies tallied up 10 on the just-off-the-DL left-hander, only five were earned but it was more than enough for Colorado to stay cooking.

Hoffman struck out the side in the first and that was the starting sign that all was going to be solid for the home club on Thursday. His fastball topped at 97 and he looked electric just as German Marquez did a day ago. Ian Desmond doubled home two in the Rockies half of the frame to jump out to a quick lead of a pair.

The second inning saw a solid one from Hoffman followed by the big one from the offense. Batting around the Rockies were led by a Ryan Hanigan single and an error on Jeff Hoffman‘s attempted sacrifice left two in scoring position. The Rockies tallied two outs but Nolan Arenado, as he always does, came through in the clutch with a double for a pair. Mark Reynolds singled him in and Carlos Gonzalez brought Reynolds and Desmond home–following an intentional walk to CarGo—home on a double.

A quite third led to more fireworks in the fourth. The Rockies would reach the 10 run plateau in the third inning, with Carlos Gonzalez picking up an RBI and Ryu balking in his final run.

Hoffman would finally get touched in the fifth by a pinch hit Scott Van Slyke solo home run. The Dodgers added two more in the sixth and Hoffman’s night would be done after an RBI triple was given up to Chase Utley. Jordan Lyles came in and allowed him to score on an Austin Barnes double. Lyles allowed some more runs, Yasmani Grandal nailed a two-run double in the eighth and make it 10-5. Scott Oberg got out of the jam but allowed one in the ninth and left a mess which was cleaned up by Greg Holland in league leading 15th save.