Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Dodgers Match Player Stats On Sep 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 8, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer three batters into the game, and the Colorado Rockies rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.

The Dodgers still own the best record in baseball at 92-48, but they have dropped 12 of their past 13 games, and there appears to be no end in sight to their slide. Their lead in the National League West over the Arizona Diamondbacks -- 21 games two weeks ago -- is down to 10.

Carlos Gonzalez had three hits for the Rockies, while Arenado, Mark Reynolds, Trevor Story, Jonathan Lucroy and Charlie Blackmon had two hits apiece.

Jon Gray (7-4) limited Los Angeles to one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out three. Mike Dunn, Scott Oberg and Adam Ottavino concluded the rout with a scoreless inning apiece.

Colorado increased its lead for the second NL wild card to three games over the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers.

Not even Clayton Kershaw is immune to the Dodgers' struggles these days. The ace left-hander gave up hits to the first four Rockies batters, including Arenado's three-run shot. It was the first time in his career Kershaw surrendered hits to the first four batters of a game.

The Rockies pushed the lead to 4-0 on a third-inning sacrifice fly from Lucroy.

Kershaw (16-3) staggered to a 28-pitch first inning. He was at 55 pitches after two innings and had reached 86 pitched when he was pulled after 3 2/3 innings. Kershaw walked off the field before showing his frustration when he slammed his glove into the back wall of the dugout.

The left-hander finished the night giving up four runs and six hits, striking out seven while walking three. It was only the third time in 23 starts that he walked at least three batters in a game.

Kershaw was trying to become the first Dodgers pitcher to open a season 17-2 since the team moved to Los Angeles.

The Rockies had stumbled to a 3-6 record on their just-completed homestand and were looking to get back on track against the struggling Dodgers.

After going more than a week without a home run, Arenado crushed his 31st on the first pitch from Kershaw. It have him 15 home runs on the road, to go along with 16 at home.

The Dodgers finally scored their first run after Kershaw departed. Cody Bellinger's double in the fourth inning was followed two batters later by Yasiel Puig's double as Los Angeles cut the deficit to 4-1.

A half-inning later, the Rockies scored two more times against right-hander Brock Stewart. Story came home on a passed ball, and Lucroy drove in his second run of the night with a single.

The Rockies padded their lead with a three-run seventh inning, scoring twice on bases-loaded walks off Dodgers reliever Josh Ravin.

Top Dodgers pitching prospect Walker Buehler made his major league debut in the eighth inning and hit 100 mph on the stadium radar gun with his second career pitch. He gave up a single to Gonzalez, his first batter, but faced the minimum six batters over two scoreless innings thanks to a double play. He struck out two, including Blackmon looking.

Chris Taylor and Bellinger each had two hits for Los Angeles.

NOTES: Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado has 15 home runs on the road and 16 home at home this season. ... Rockies C Ryan Hanigan (left groin strain) was activated from the 10-day disabled list, while CF Ramiel Tapia was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez received an epidural shot on his ailing lower back and is expected to be out of action for a few days. ... Dodgers SS Corey Seager is expected to return to the starting lineup Friday after not starting since Aug. 27 because of a sore right elbow.