LAst Night's Action: Rockies Coors Field Mojo Does in Dodgers

Colorado Rockies defeat LA Dodgers 9-7. We can file this game under “Coors Field Classic.”

Everything seemed to be going well for the Dodgers. Starter Clayton Kershaw was doing his thing posting zeroes each inning. Matt Kemp tried to win more All-Star votes.

Matt Kemp’s solo homer to lead off the fourth inning broke things open for the Dodgers, but he didn’t stop there. After Andre Ethier hit a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning leaving Casey Blake on third base, Kemp lined a triple to right field to clear the bases.

Then the Coors Field magic (or voodoo depending on perspective) kicked in. In the sixth inning against Kershaw, Troy Tulowitzki hit a one-out double with the bases loaded which scored two and Ty Wigginton grounded out to first scoring another run. Just like that the Dodgers lead was cut to 4-3.

But the Dodgers got the three runs back in the top of the seventh. After the three runs crossed the plate, Kemp hit a double to get the cycle alarms ready. 7-3 Dodgers with Kershaw going back to the mound.

Then the Dodgers couldn’t throw a strike. In a 38-minute bottom of the seventh, three walks and a hit batter peppered four singles yielding five runs. Kershaw couldn’t get an out. Scott Elbert got one, but allowed a hit and a walk. Mike MacDougal didn’t record an out, but because all the runs were charged to Kershaw and Elbert his ERA remained a shiny 2.14 thanks to Blake Hawksworth finally getting the last two outs.

The Rockies added a run in the eighth, but the main drama came in the ninth inning when with Ethier on second Kemp came to the plate to attempt a reverse cycle. Four pitches later it was a swinging strikeout, no cycle for Kemp, do not collect $200. Rod Barajas flew out to right to end the game.

It’s still perplexing why the Dodgers’ pitching staff couldn’t throw a strike in the seventh inning when the Rockies only mustered two hits in the first five innings. But Kershaw went 2-for-3 with the bat scoring twice, so that’s something right?

Coors Field: Where No Lead Is Safe.

And just in case you were wondering why Jerry Sands wasn’t available to pinch hit, he was sent back down to Triple-A Albuquerque. In to fill that abyss in left field is Trent Oeltjen who was hitting .339 with eight homers and 34 RBI in Albuquerque. To make room for Oeltjen, right-handed pitcher Luis Vasquez was outrighted.

TONIGHT’S ACTION

LA Dodgers at Colorado Rockies. 5:40 p.m. FS Prime Ticket, AM 790 KABC.

Kansas City Royals at LA Angels. 7:05 p.m. FSWest, AM 830 KLAA.