Colorado Rockies defeat Los Angeles Dodgers 9-7 in series opener - MLB Update
The Colorado Rockies romped to a 9-7 victory in the first fixture in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Coors Field Stadium on Thursday, June 9 to take a 1-0 lead in three-game home series.
The Rockies were trailing by 4-0 before the bottom of the sixth inning but Troy Tulowitzki splashed a striking hit to left-field for an RBI double against the Dodgers’ starter Clayton Kershaw to open the Rockies account. As Tulowitzki has provided the momentum,
third baseman Ty Wigginton contributed an RBI single to help the club trim their lead to 3-4 until the end of the sixth inning.
The Dodgers squad, realising the game could go away from their hands, readily piled up three runs to elevate the lead to 7-3 in the top of the seventh inning. Dee Strange-Gordon, Casey Black and Andre Ethier, who has already scored an RBI single in the fifth
inning, each contributed a single in three-run seventh inning.
Kershaw handed the ball to Scott Elbert, who failed to defend the lead with the ball as the Rockies strong batting line-up utilised an effective touch-and-go technique to pile five important runs to elevate the lead to 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh. Carlos
Gonzalez kicked off the inning with an RBI single and then Todd Helton earned an RBI single on a walk before Elbert gave the responsibility to reliever Mike McDougal.
Kershaw, who was making his 14th start of the season, allowed six runs on seven hits, walked three and besides striking-out six batters lost his third game. Elbert threw just under an inning and went for two runs with just one strike-out.
McDougal failed to stop the Rockies’ batting line-up as he allowed an RBI double to Tulowitzki on his second pitch of the game. McDougal then permitted an RBI scoring walk to Jason Giambi, who took the lead to 8-7 until the end of the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Chris Nelson hit a sacrifice fly off the Dodgers’ closer Josh Lindblom to secure a 9-7 advantage that cemented the Rockies’ 30th win in 2011.
The Rockies’ starter Juan Nicasio scattered four runs on seven hits, allowed one walk and struck-out four batters over five innings. Relievers’ Rex Brothers, Rafael Betancourt and closer Huston Street each threw one scoreless inning in order to provide relaxation
to the batters. However, Matt Reynolds went for three runs on four hits and allowed one walk over one inning.
The Dodgers, who have won just 29 games, lost their 35th outing of the season. After receiving another loss, Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly is now thinking to change his batting line-up. According to experts, he might use his new technique in
the next fixture on Friday, June 10.
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