Rockies fall to Dodgers, 2-1, on Mookie Betts’ walk-off infield hit
LOS ANGELES — Gut punch. Root canal. Stubbing your toe in the middle of the night.
Painful.
Just like the Rockies’ 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Mookie Betts chopped a bases-loaded, high-bouncing infield hit to the back of the mound for a walk-off single off of closer Daniel Bard.
Bard came into the game having converted 16 of 18 save opportunities and had allowed just one earned run (0.52 ERA) over his last 15 outings. But he gave up singles to Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux and walked Austin Barnes to load the bases with no outs.
The Rockies managed just one hit, but, miraculously, they were still in the game until the Dodgers’ final at-bat.
Before the bitter ending, José Ureña rolled in his Rockies debut.
The veteran right-hander, called up from Triple-A to fill the rotation spot of the injured Antonio Senzatela, was charged with just one run in 6 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, striking out two and walking three. He threw 89 pitches, 53 of them for strikes.
The Dodgers really didn’t make him sweat until the seventh inning when they bit him with three singles. Ureña almost escaped by getting Jake Lamb to chop into a double play, but back-to-back, hard-hit singles by Bellinger and Lux ended Ureña’s night.
Manager Bud Black brought in right-hander Jake Bird, who made his major league debut on June 16. Bird promptly plunked Barnes to load the bases and then uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Bellinger to race home from third. Bird cut the Dodgers rally off by inducing Betts to ground out to third baseman Ryan McMahon.
Ureña, who began the season with Milwaukee as a reliever, was signed by the Rockies to a minor-league contract May 16. He spent two-plus weeks in Scottsdale, Ariz., to get stretched out as a starter. He made his first start with Triple-A Albuquerque on June 5. In five starts with the Isotopes, he was 0-1 with a 7.29 ERA.
Dodgers starter Mitch White not only blanked the Rockies for five innings, but he also no-hit them. The Rockies finally scratched out a run in the sixth when Kris Bryant drew a one-out walk and Brendan Rodgers blooped a single to center. Bryant advanced to third and Bellinger threw wildly into the Dodgers dugout, allowing Bryant to score.
On Deck
Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (6-7, 6.53 ERA) at Diamondbacks LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-6, 8.27)
7:40 p.m. Thursday, Chase Field
TV: ATTRM
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM
Thursday’s game features two lefties trying to regain their form. Gomber will make his 14th start of the season after returning to the rotation last week in a start vs. the D-backs at Coors Field. He picked up the win, even though he allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, across 5 2/3 innings. Gomber is 2-0 with a 4.67 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Arizona.
The Rockies beat up Keuchel last Saturday at Coors Field, ripping him for seven runs (six earned) on six hits and drawing three walks over five innings. There has been speculation that he will be removed from the rotation but the D-backs have been hit by injuries, so it’s likely that the lefty will make at least one more start. Arizona’s Zach Davies was recently added to the 15-day injured list with a shoulder problem.
Trending: On May 21, Charlie Blackmon was slashing .216/.281/.403. In the 38 games after that, Blackmon hit .314/.353/.519 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs, raising his slash line to .269/.319/.466 (entering Wednesday).
At issue: The Rockies entered Wednesday’s game with a 12-24 record on the road, a .324 winning percentage that was tied for the lowest in the majors with Detroit.
Pitching probables
Friday: Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (5-5, 3.83) at Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (4-2, 3.40), 7:40 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-6, 4.43) at Diamondbacks LHP Madison Bumgarner (4-8, 3.74), 2:10 p.m., ATTRM
