Offense Goes 3 for 14 With RISP, Strands Ten in 10-4 Denver Loss

Leave it to the Dodgers to make a last place team look like the 27’ Yankees. The Dodgers did that on Tuesday night with an ugly 10-4 loss to the Rockies. The loss snapped their three game winning streak and cost them a game in the standings to boot. Not to mention the embarrassment of losing to Tyler Matzek. Good job boys.

Super, now I have to write a stupid recap about this stupid game. But Dan Haren (5IP 5ER 4H 6SO 1BB) only allowed one home run tonight. I guess you have to look for the silver linings in everything. Even during pathetic games like this one. The horrendous Haren returned tonight as the Dodgers fell behind 5-0 early, and could never recover. The Rockies evened the series as both clubs go at it again in the rubber game Wednesday afternoon.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers   4 16 1

Rockies   10 9 0

WP-Matzek-6-10

LP-Haren-13-11

HR-Dickerson-23-Puig-14

Haren has never pitched well at Coors Field, and he was predictably atrocious. Although I guess he could have been worse. Haren allowed five earned runs on four hits with five whiffs and one walk over five frames. He was removed for a pinch-hitter in the sixth, and Scott Elbert replaced him in the bottom of the sixth.

This game was pathetic from the start, and this is how most of the Dodger losses have gone in 2014. The starting pitcher gives up a bunch of runs in the first inning, and the offense does nothing the rest of the game. I can chalk this one up to just Coors Field. Haren had been pitching so well lately, so it wasn’t surprising to see him get lit up like a Christmas tree in an awful pitching environment where he never pitches well.

Bad Haren is Bad-Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

All the Dodgers had to do was beat a last place club, but no, they just couldn’t do it could they? The game started predictably awful. The Rockies scored two runs in the first and then another run in the second. They followed that with two more runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth, and three in the eighth. You get the picture. The Dodgers scored two in the sixth, and then two more in the ninth off of Puig’s two-run home run.

Haren walked Charlie Blackmon to lead-off the game in the first inning. He didn’t get a called strike three call that was borderline. Josh Rutledge singled, and Blackmon went to second on a missed relay throw from Puig. Justin Morneau’s ground out scored Blackmon, and then the second run scored on a wild pitch. Michael McKenry doubled to lead-off the second inning, and after a line drive out to Kemp that allowed McKenry to tag up to third, DJ LeMahieu’s ground out got him home.

In the fourth inning, Corey Dickerson’s two-run home run with Drew Stubbs aboard put Colorado up by a 5-0 score. The sixth inning would see the Dodgers give up a broken bat bleeder to Morneau. A walk to Stubbs, and then a ground out moved the runners to second and third. There was an intentional walk to McKenry to load the bases. Then there was a little tapper up the first base line from Charlie Culberson that Brandon League fielded and underhand tossed to Gonzalez at first base. But the throw hit Culberson as he was running. It’s ruled an infield hit and not one but two runs scored. League is charged with a throwing error on the play. That made it a 7-2 Colorado lead.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers offense did what they’ve done many times this year, strand runners in scoring position. The Dodgers scored four runs on 16 hits against rookie Tyler Matzek, and still lost. The young left hander allowed 11 hits across 5.1 innings to the Dodgers, but he got the win. He limited the Dodgers to two runs, and whiffed six. How in the world could the Dodgers not score off of this guy?

Of course there was a huge out at the plate that killed a potential rally. The Dodgers left ten men on base tonight. The Dodgers had the first two batters reach base in the fourth when Scott Van Slyke, and Matt Kemp both singled. But Justin Turner grounded into a double play. The Dodgers had the first two guys reach base in the fifth, when A.J. Ellis, and Haren singled. But after Gordon hit into a force out. Puig whiffed, and Gonzo lined out, the Dodgers got nothing.

The Dodgers did it again in the sixth, when Kemp and Van Slyke single. There was a wild pitch, and then Turner’s two-run double got the Dodgers on the board. That made the score 5-2. But Juan Uribe would double off the center field wall, and third base coach Lorenzo Bundy waived Turner in for some reason. He was thrown out by a good three feet, but not before he tried to run over McKenry at the plate. There was a harsh collision, and Turner got up slow. He was ok, but was called out. That killed the rally.

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The usually stinky Jamey Wright gave up more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make sure the game was thoroughly un-enjoyable.

Yasiel Puig finally broke his power drought with a meaningless two-run home run in the top of the ninth. That was the first Puig home run since July 31. So that’s an encouraging sign.

Oh and Gordon did this in tonight’s game

Game Notes

The Dodgers had six players with two or more hits, and only drew one walk. Gordon, Puig, Kemp, Van Slyke, Haren, and Turner all had at least two base hits, with Turner collecting three. Corey Dickerson went 2 for 4 for Colorado and drove in four of the ten runs.

Before the game Hanley Ramirez was scratched because of a sore elbow, as Turner made his seventh start of the season at short. Hanley later appeared as a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth, and struck out.

Before the game, Dan Haren was 5-1 with a 1.70 ERA in his last six starts.

The Dodgers activated double-A left hander Daniel Coulombe. The 25-year old made his major league debut and pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout. The Dodgers now have 37 players on the active roster.

With the loss the Dodgers fall to 86-65 on the season, and lose a game in the standings after the Giants beat Arizona 2-1. The Dodger’s lead in the NL West falls to three, and the magic number stays at 9.

The Rockies will look to play spoiler again Wednesday afternoon. Carlos Frias will make his second MLB start, as he fills in for the ailing Hyu-jin Ryu. Colorado will counter with left hander Jorge De La Rosa in the 12:10 PM series finale.