Dodgers at Rockies
The Colorado Rockies have used the last couple days to end a dubious losing streak against a National League West rival and make sure the Los Angeles Dodgers couldn't completely run away with the division before the All-Star break. The Rockies set their sights on a series win as well as a third straight victory over the Dodgers on Sunday when they host the final contest of the four-game set.
Colorado fell a season-high 13 games behind Los Angeles in the division following Thursday's 12-8 victory in the series opener before ending its 12-game skid against the Dodgers - the second-longest losing streak to one opponent in club history - in Friday's 13-9 win. One night after solving likely NL All-Star starter Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Rockies took advantage of an error by Max Muncy that triggered a three-run fifth inning and beat three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. Los Angeles' offense was held in check at Coors Field for the first time this season in the 5-3 setback, managing only three runs and no homers after averaging 10 runs and 2.8 home runs in their first five games at the venue this season. Muncy, who entered Saturday 10-for-16 with five homers, 14 RBIs, seven runs scored, five walks and no strikeouts at Coors Field in 2019, finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet LA (Los Angeles), AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (7-4, 3.76 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Chi Chi Gonzalez (0-1, 5.40)
Maeda permitted two runs or fewer for the sixth time in eight outings last Sunday, but his winless streak reached four games in a no-decision despite holding Colorado to two runs over seven innings. The 31-year-old has struggled in eight road turns (2-3, 5.67 ERA) but has been sensational in nine career games (six starts) at Coors Field, going 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Nolan Arenado (3-for-25, 13 strikeouts) has struggled to solve Maeda, who also beat the Rockies in Denver with five innings of one-run ball on April 5.
Gonzalez stepped foot on a big-league mound for the first time since July 7, 2016 in Tuesday's loss at San Francisco, yielding three runs on six hits and four walks over five innings. The Oral Roberts product struck out the side in the opening frame but fanned only one more batter after that in his return from an extended recovery following Tommy John surgery. Gonzalez dazzled the Dodgers in his only career start against them in 2015, failing to factor in the decision despite permitting two runs in 8 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies OF Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer Saturday but finished 1-for-4, ending a major-league record streak in which he tallied at least three hits in six straight home games.
2. Dodgers rookie OF Alex Verdugo finished with three hits Saturday and is 15-for-33 with five home runs, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored versus Colorado this season. Each number is his best mark against any opponent.
3. The teams totaled eight runs Saturday after the Rockies and their opponents combined for 169 over the previous nine contests at Coors Field.