Los Angeles Dodgers @ Colorado Rockies (9/17/20) — Final: LAD 9, COL 3

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With seven runs in the late innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers pull closer to clinching the National League West title and cruise to a dominant victory over the Colorado Rockies, 9-3.

Corey Seager reached on an error, but Justin Turner’s double-play ball allowed Kyle Freeland to pitch a scoreless first frame. Julio Urías was erratic to start, causing him to leave strikes over the middle of the plate that resulted in runners on 2nd and 3rd before he recorded an out. Charlie Blackmon’s sacrifice-fly brought home a run, and Kevin Pillar’s single put the Rockies in front 2-0. Freeland set the Dodgers down in order with ease to begin the second, and Urías pitched to some soft contact in the bottom half. Edwin Ríos gave the Dodgers their first hit of the game with a 2-out single in the third. Freeland, remaining in control, left Ríos stranded. Throwing the all-important first pitch strike, Urías worked a harmless frame to end the inning. Corey Seager crushed a solo home run on the first pitch of the fourth, getting LA on the board and cutting their deficit in half. Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger both singled before Freeland walked Chris Taylor to load the bases with two-outs. On a 2-strike pitch, Freeland hit Kiké Hernández, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 edge. Ríos flew out, unable to add more, but Urías pitched a swift home half to keep LA in front. Seager’s knock in the fifth was erased on Turner’s second double-play of the game, and Urías worked another quick frame to end the inning. Freeland pitched a 1-2-3 frame in the sixth, and despite a batter reaching on Ríos’ fielding error, Urías got the first two outs in Colorado’s half. He was relieved by Dylan Floro, who got the third out. Urías, after a rough first inning, responded beautifully. He retired twelve straight, finalizing a very solid line: 5.2IP, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 2K and the victory. Hernández doubled with one-away in the top of the seventh, and after Freeland walked Ríos, he was pulled. Mookie Betts lined an RBI base hit to center, and Seager scored another with a double. Subsequently, a wild pitch made it 5-2 Dodgers, and Will Smith’s gapper put them ahead 7-2. A passed ball during Taylor’s at-bat allowed another run to trot home, and they grabbed an 8-2 lead. Floro struck-out a pair in the home half, but couldn’t finish the inning. With two-on and two-out, Joe Kelly, fresh off the IL plus a suspension, entered for the first time in a month and half. He worked a ground-out to escape the jam, and Ríos easily stroked a solo homer in the eighth, extending LA’s advantage to 9-2. Adam Kolarek allowed a solo shot to Trevor Story in the Rockies turn, and was replaced with two-outs. Josh Sborz concluded the inning, and after the Dodgers went quietly offensively in the ninth, Sborz worked an easy frame to end the ballgame.

The boys in blue win the series opener from Coors Field in commanding fashion, lowering their magic number for an eighth straight division title to three. Tomorrow, they’ll look to do it again, relying on a ‘bullpen day’ for the third time this week. Testing potential roles for the postseason, an opener is yet to be announced; however, it could be Brusdar Graterol again, who’s been giving the task both times prior. He hasn’t lasted longer than four outs in either start, and we can expect nothing different tomorrow. It will be interesting to see how Dave Roberts manages the ‘pen and how each individual performs. For Colorado, Ryan Castellani, 1-2 with a 4.46 ERA, will get the ball. The Rockies are two games out of a playoff spot, and hope for a successful late push with only two weeks remaining. 5:10pm first pitch. Go Dodgers!