Rockies at Dodgers
Matt Beaty was sent down to the minors on Thursday, recalled the following day before leaving town and ended the night as a hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Beaty hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning in the series opener, and the Dodgers look to ride the momentum when they host the Colorado Rockies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set.
Beaty, who said he was told after Thursday's game "not to jump on the flight," hit his second career homer to make a complete-game winner of Walker Buehler (career-best 16 strikeouts) as Los Angeles extended its winning streak against the Rockies to nine games with a 4-2 triumph. Cody Bellinger belted his 25th shot as the Dodgers posted their seventh victory in nine contests and improved their major league-best record to 52-25. Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon hit solo homers for the Rockies, who trail the Dodgers by 11 games in the National League West with the midway point looming. Blackmon has been hotter than lava during an 11-game hitting streak that has seen him go 28-for-56 with eight homers and 17 RBIs.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Peter Lambert (2-0, 6.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.26)
Lambert pitched well in his first two major-league starts before being hammered by San Diego in his last turn. The 22-year-old surrendered eight runs and nine hits in three innings after allowing just two and seven over 12 frames while winning his first two outings. Lambert fared well in his first road start as he gave up one run and four hits in seven innings while defeating the Chicago Cubs on June 6.
Ryu has won seven straight decisions, is unbeaten in his last 10 starts and hasn't allowed more two runs in any of his 14 outings this season. The 32-year-old South Korean leads the majors in ERA and has registered 85 strikeouts while issuing only five walks. Ryu is 4-6 with a 4.97 ERA in 10 career starts against the Rockies and has been pounded by Arenado (11-for-19, three homers) while also struggling against Blackmon (8-for-24, one).
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers OFs Bellinger and Joc Pederson and Rockies 3B Arenado, OF Blackmon and SS Trevor Story are among the finalists for the Starters Election for the National League All-Star team.
2. Beaty was back with the Dodgers because RHP Josh Sborz (back) was placed on the 10-day injured list after being hurt in his major-league debut on Thursday.
3. Colorado 1B Daniel Murphy was hitless in three at-bats on Friday to fall to 5-for-25 over his last seven games.