Field Level Media
Jun 22, 2019
Rookie Matt Beaty hit a game-ending, two-run home run, and Walker Buehler recorded a career-high 16 strikeouts Friday as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 4-2 victory over the visiting Colorado Rockies in a battle of the top two teams in the National League West.
In a showcase of star power, Rockies offensive catalysts Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon hit home runs, two of just three hits against Buehler, who threw a complete game. Los Angeles' Cody Bellinger also hit a home run.
Despite the power show, a pitchers' duel developed between Buehler and Rockies starter German Marquez.
Marquez gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over eight innings with no walks and eight strikeouts. The outing was more like Marquez's strong April instead of the 10.06 ERA he had in his first three June outings.
In the bottom of the ninth, Max Muncy walked with two outs, and Beaty hit his second homer of the season, to center off Jairo Diaz (1-2).
Buehler (8-1) gave up three hits and two runs, and he did not walk a batter. His 16 strikeouts were the most for a Dodgers pitcher since Hideo Nomo struck out 17 in a 1996 game. Buehler's previous career high of 12 strikeouts came in a start last season against the Rockies.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chris Taylor's sacrifice fly scored Muncy, who had reached base on a single. Muncy extended his on-base streak to 30 games and his hitting streak to nine games.
Arenado tied the game in the fourth inning with a towering home run that bounced off the top of the wall and toward the left field seats. It was the 19th homer of the season.
Bellinger got that run back to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. He crushed a blast to center field for his 25th of the season and his fifth homer in nine games.
Blackmon homered to tie the game 2-2 in the sixth inning, reaching the seats down the right field line. It was his 18th homer of the season, extending his on-base streak to 31 games, the longest active stretch in the major leagues. He has also hit in 11 straight games.
The Dodgers lost third baseman Justin Turner in the fourth inning when he was ejected by plate umpire Chad Fairchild.
--Field Level Media