Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On Tuesday night at Coors Field, it appeared the Los Angeles Dodgers would lose going into the ninth inning, but they scored 7 runs in the ninth to beat the Colorado Rockies 11-to-7.
Walker Buehler had command issues with every pitch. This was disastrous at Coors Field where every pitcher toils unless he has his best pitches working. At no time since Buehler returned from his second Tommy John surgery, he has had command problems. He only pitched 4 innings. Unless he improves, the Dodgers should remove Buehler from the starting rotation.
Andy Pages began scoring with a second-inning solo home run. Shohei Ohtani had a massive home run.
The Dodger relievers did not perform well for the first time in several weeks, but it is understandable because no pitcher enjoys performing at Coors Field. The dry thin air doesn’t let the ball break. Unless a pitcher doesn’t pristine command, he doesn’t succeed at Coors Field. Dave Roberts used lesser reliable relievers because the Dodgers were trailing by a large margin.
Miguel Vargas, who did not get much play time, doubled in Kiké Hernández in the seventh.
Going into the ninth, only a few die-hard Dodger fans would think the Dodgers were capable of winning Tuesday’s game. They had a five-run deficit to overcome. At no time this season did the Dodgers show an ability to overcome a large deficit in the late innings, but they were facing the worst pitching staff in the major leagues.
To start the ninth, Pages and Miguel Rojas singled. Miguel Vargas walked to load the bases. Jason Heyward, pinch-hitting for Chris Taylor, blasted a grand slam. After a pitching change for Colorado, Ohtani singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Freddie Freeman was intentionally walked. Teoscar Hernandez blasted a three-run homer.
Alex Vesia got the first two outs of the ninth inning, but Evan Phillips retired the last out of the game.
