Field Level Media
Sep 19, 2018
Chris Taylor hit a game-ending home run in the 10th inning Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their lead in the National League West to 1 1/2 games with a dramatic 3-2 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies.
With one out in the 10th, Taylor unloaded on a 2-2 pitch from Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino (6-4) for his 17th home run of the season and his first career walk-off homer.
After the division lead changed hands between the Dodgers and Rockies over each of the previous three days, Los Angeles earned back-to-back victories in the showdown series at Dodger Stadium.
The series finale is scheduled for Wednesday, which is also the last matchup between the teams this season.
Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw gave up two runs (one earned) on three hits over seven innings. He walked five, his second-highest walk total this season, while striking out three. The Los Angeles bullpen added three scoreless innings, with Dylan Floro (6-3) striking out the only two batters he faced to earn the victory.
Rockies starter Kyle Freeland also gave up two runs, allowing five hits over 6 2/3 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Dodgers grabbed a first-inning lead for the second consecutive game against the Rockies. Matt Kemp delivered a two-out RBI single to score Manny Machado but was thrown out by Rockies right fielder Gerardo Parra when he didn't get back to the first base bag on time.
A pair of Dodgers defensive miscues on one play allowed the Rockies to tie the game 1-1 in the third inning. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner let DJ LeMahieu's ground ball get under his glove, and Taylor overran the ball in left field. Garrett Hampson scored on the play.
The Rockies took a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning on a mammoth 447-foot home run from Charlie Blackmon off Kershaw. It was Blackmon's 27th of the season and his longest home run this year.
Rockies Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado made a miscue in the fifth that allowed the Dodgers to tie the score 2-2. His flip throw back to the bag to get Auston Barnes rolled into foul territory up the left field line, and Barnes scored after an infield single from Taylor.
Arenado made a second error on a wild throw in the seventh inning, giving the five-time Gold Glove winner 14 errors on the season.
--Field Level Media