Rocks Continue To Climb, While Dodgers Slide

The Rockies started the season with 4 series on the road, and we've turned around and started the 2nd half with 4 series at home.  We've been a dangerous team at home.  Could we stay dangerous hosting Ohtani and Big Blue?

GAME 1

Dodgers - 6

Rockies - 7 f10

Great game.  Dodgers used 2 in the 2nd and 3 in the 3rd (capped by a Herrera 2-run homer) to go up 5-0.  But the mountain boys had a comeback in them.  Adames and Pederson would homer in the bottom of the 3rd to close it to 5-3, and we'd use 3 hits to plate two more and tie it 5-5 after 4 innings.  The teams would trade runs in the 5th, and then remain at 6-6 while both of them squandered a lot of chances.  10th inning...Dodgers go down 1-2-3 to Hudson and Lorenzen.  Adames leads off for the Rocks and whiffs.  Garrett Mitchell steps up, catches a 2-8 roll...1-13 homer shot, and does...not...miss.

WP - Lorenzen  LP - Jansen  HR - India, Merrill, Herrera, Adames, Pederson, Mitchell

GAME 2

Dodgers - 5

Rockies -13

An 8-run Rockies 2nd inning was not the highlight of this one.  Nope...the highlight was Charlie Morton.  Sure he pitched in the 6th, allowing 4 runs and notching a win.  But he also HIT.  

HOW IT HAPPENED - The Rocks decided to spell Vientos at DH in the 2nd after 2 at bats.  Adames comes in.  But then in the 4th, our SS Kim gets injured.  We are cornered.  So Adames steps out of DH and into the field, and Morton slots into the 7-hole.  He'd come up in the home 5th, draw an x-ball grounder to first, and SINGLES and scores!  Rocks pitchers - 2.000 OPS

Otherwise this one was not close.  The Rocks piled on.  Ildemaro Vargas would drive in 4 runs, go 3 for 3, and then get sent down!

WP - Morton  LP - Anderson  HR - Ohtani, Wood, Adames

GAME 3

Dodgers - 1

Rockies - 2

This one would feature just 4 hits for each team, and Big Blue seemed destined to scratch out a 1-0 win, courtesy of back-to-back doubles by Turner and Riley in the 1st.  Yamamoto cruised through 6.  But in the 8th, the Rocks found a way.  Tyrone Taylor got a leadoff single.  Adames whiffed (he does that)...but Tatis woke up and hit an open double.  Taylor scored on a close play at the plate, and Tatis took 3rd on the play.  Vientos then came up, lifted one into LF, and drove Fernando home.  2-1 Rocks!  We chose to stay with Jose Button into the 9th, and he delivered.  Hoe walked the leadoff man but then retired the rest.  Drama done...Rocks win.

WP - Butto  LP - Brazoban  HR - none

GAME 4

Dodgers - 9

Rockies - 4

Fun fact - the Dodgers took the lead in each of the first 3 games and lost.  But the 4-0 lead they took in this one would hold.  They scored 4 in the opening frame, which the Rocks quickly countered with 3 of our own.  The game would stay that way until the 6th, when I tried to sneak Landen Roupp out for one more frame, and did not succeed at all.  He's give up a hit and a walk, and then some walks and a tragic Tatis error would let the floodgates open.  Dodgers cruise.

WP - Lopez  LP - Roupp  HR - Fraley, P. Smith

Two very good games in this series, and we feel lucky to have won them both.  Thanks to Josh for a great time rolling.

Rocks are 30-26, set to take on the Braves.  Dodgers are 21-27, hoping to turn it around versus the listing Pirate ship!