DENVER — On the heels of arguably their most painful loss of an endlessly painful season, the Rockies stole some joy back with clutch at-bats.
Brenton Doyle delivered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the seventh inning and a walk-off sac fly to center field in the ninth, handing Colorado a 7-6 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday.
Jake Cave, who was left fuming in the on-deck circle without a chance to bat in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s 11-9 loss, got to lead off the ninth this time. He and Elehuris Montero singled to set the table for Adael Amador, who grounded into a force out at second
The game-winning run, which Cave scored directly in front of home plate umpire Lance Barksdale, tasted especially sweet. Cave was the Rockies’ most furious player after Barksdale’s missed call from first base on a check swing cost Colorado the final out of Tuesday’s game.
The Rockies are 5-14 against the Dodgers since the start of the 2023 season. They will attempt to earn a four-game split Thursday in a matinee at Coors Field.
They earned another head start against their seemingly insurmountable division rival when Michael Toglia took Bobby Miller deep for a 3-0 first-inning lead. Toglia was on cycle watch after tripling his next at-bat, but that fizzled out by the end of a 2-for-4 night.
The Dodgers didn’t need all nine innings to conjure a comeback this time. They only needed one opportunity. Shohei Ohtani, attracting an enthusiastic reception before every plate appearance, cleared the bases with a two-out double into the left-center alley. He scored on a Freddie Freeman single, and it was 4-3 Los Angeles by the bottom of the second.
Miller shook off the early home run and settled in for the Dodgers in his first appearance since April 10, carrying a 6-4 lead into the seventh after Jason Heyward’s go-ahead two-run double. But Dave Roberts might have left his starter on the mound a little too long. Miller gave up a leadoff double to Sean Bouchard then got the first out before exiting to a small ovation from Dodgers fans.
Daniel Hudson’s first pitch was grounded to third by Montero and bobbled by Cavan Biggio, a run-scoring error that breathed new life into Coors Field. The tying runner was on, and eventually around the bases after an Amador double and the first of Doyle’s clutch productive outs. The final line for Miller included five earned runs.
Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner gave up all of the Dodgers’ six runs in a five-inning start, striking out six and walking two.
Blackmon day-to-day
Charlie Blackmon did not play in Wednesday’s game due to right hamstring tightness, an injury Rockies manager Bud Black described as day-to-day moving forward. Black didn’t rule out a Blackmon appearance when he spoke to reporters pregame, but he said the veteran designated hitter would “probably not” be available.
Blackmon was removed from the game Tuesday after injuring his hamstring while running the bases. He was hit by a pitch in the first inning and advanced gingerly to third base after pulling up as he rounded second.
