Mookie Betts delivers winning single as Dodgers top Rockies 4-3
Los Angeles Dodgers #50 Mookie Betts (SS) game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth inning to help beat the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. This photo is by Rashad Griffin/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Mookie Betts has now played more games as a Dodger than he has as a Red Sox, and his Dodger legacy continues to grow as he delivered a clutch game-winning hit in the Dodgers 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Roki Sasaki (3-5) had a few bad pitches early but stayed the course, delivering a much-needed lights-out performance over his final four innings.
Similarly, Gabriel Hughes struggled early as the Boys in Blue lit him up in his first major league start, tagging him for three runs in the opening inning. Tommy Edman started with a single, followed by Freddie Freeman driving a fastball into center field for the double.
The rattled rookie then walked Betts to load the bases before throwing a wild pitch, which scored the Dodgers first run as Edman easily stole home standing. The nerves continued for Hughes, who walked Max Muncy before giving up a two-RBI single to Kyle Tucker, scoring Freeman and Betts. Freeman has been scoring hot lately, batting .400 over his past 14 games.
The Rockies returned fire the following inning, starting with Kyle Karros sending a 99mph fastball to deep left-center as his father looked on from the Dodgers broadcast booth, marveling at the 434-foot bomb.
“I’m just glad the Dodgers have three runs, but I’ll admit it, yeah I’m happy,” said Dodger legend Eric Karros of his son's home run. “I mean I’ve got to be, right? My next son will be pitching here.”
Karros’ other son is Dodgers pitcher Jared Karros, currently recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Edouard Julien made it back-to-back homers, smacking a solo shot 446 feet that cut the Dodger lead to one, 3-2.
Colorado manufactured the game-tying run the following inning, starting with Sasaki walking Brett Sullivan, followed by a wild pitch and a sacrifice ground out to move Sullivan to second and third bases. Mickey Moniak then hit a sacrifice fly scoring Sullivan, knotting the game at 3-3. From that point on, we had four innings of scoreless ball from both Sasaki and Hughes along with the bullpens.
In the eighth inning, L.A. made their move with Edman and Freeman knocking back-to-back singles before Betts came to the plate. After a nine-pitch battle with reliever Antonio Senzatela, Betts lasered a single up the middle for the go-ahead, game-winning run as Edman crossed the plate.
Tanner Scott came in to close in the ninth, striking out his final two batters in a one-two-three inning. Scott now has a dozen saves on the season and has been a key component in the Dodgers having the best record in baseball so far this season.
All three games against the Rockies were one-run games this series, which is a bit concerning since the Dodgers have the best record in the NL this season while the Rockies have the worst.
There were a lot of positives to be found in the close win, including Sasaki persevering through early turbulence as he dialed in, throwing three scoreless innings to keep the game manageable late, giving his hitters a chance to come through.
“Giving up three runs at that point, there was some stress,” said Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts. “Second and third with nobody out, he found a way to get some punchouts and a fly ball to get out of the inning. You could see the demeanor walking off the mound of confidence.”
The Dodgers will try to close out the first half of the season strong when they face off with the Arizona Diamondbacks (45-47) in a three-game series at home before heading into the All-Star break, where they’ll be sending an MLB-high five players to Philadelphia for the 93rd All-Star Game.