From the bottom of the first through the end of the game, the Dodgers outscored the Rockies 6-2. It was just that darn top of the first that burned them.
Nathan Eovaldi gave up five runs to start the game, and despite the Dodgers fighting their way within a run, they couldn't get over the hump in taking the loss, 7-6. Even with the defeat, the Dodgers took two of three and are a game behind the Rockies for third in the NL West.
Dexter Fowler began the big inning with a walk. Eovaldi made it look like a short inning by striking out Jonathan Herrera and Carlos Gonzalez for two down. With Fowler on second from a stolen base, the Rockies were able to dink and dunk their way to four hits and a walk in the next five batters. Troy Tulowitzki hit an RBI single to make it 1-0, and Seth Smith singled as well for two on.
Needing that one more big out, Eovaldi instead walked Ty Wiggington to load the bases. Kevin Kouzmanoff then hit a soft fly ball to right, but Trent Oeltjen couldn't make the diving catch, allowing the bases to clear to make it 4-0. Eliezer Alfonso added another RBI single, and the Rockies were in full control up 5-0.
With the Dodgers looking for a sweep, they had plenty of time to fight back, and it started in the bottom of the frame. Tony Gwynn led off and tripled down the right field line. Justin Sellers came though with an RBI single, and it was now 5-1.
In the third, Sellers got in on the action again with a leadoff double. Something has gotten into James Loney lately (see: actually hitting the ball), and an out later, he stroked an RBI double to go down 5-2.
Eovaldi could only make it through four innings as his innings and pitch count are being watched like a hawk, so Blake Hawksworth relieved in the fifth. It wasn't exactly a good choice, as Gonzalez doubled leading off. Tulo struck out, but Smith hit an RBI double to make it 6-2. It got worse, as Kouzmanoff had another big at-bat with a run-scoring single, and the lead was back to five at 7-2.
The heart of the Dodgers' order did nothing in the fifth, but the bottom of the order made some noise in the sixth. Well, Jhoulys Chacin did all the work, as he walked Rod Barajas, Oeltjen, and Jamey Carroll all in a row. So much for throwing strikes and letting your defense do the work with a big lead.
Mark Reynolds relieved, and the great Eugenio Valez got a run home on a fielder's choice. And with that, Valez is still 0-for-the year. Shocking. Gwynn plated another run on a sac-fly, and it was 7-4. Sellers had a chance to do more damage, but struck out for the final out.
The Dodgers continued to climb back into this one in the seventh. Kemp led off with a walk and stole his 34th base. After Loney popped up, Aaron Miles hit an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 7-5. With two outs, Oeltjen got the Dodgers within one with an RBI single.
Maybe the Dodgers ran out of steam from fighting back all game, as their bats went silent in the final two innings. The combination of Rex Brothers and Rafael Betancourt did the trick.
It was good to see the Dodgers at least make a game out of this, as there were plenty of times this season a 5-0 deficit meant an easy loss. Eovaldi was really one or two good pitches away from keeping the game manageable, but just couldn't do it. He finished with four innings pitched for six hits, five runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. He fell to 1-2.
Hawksworth has fallen on hard times of late, as he's had a horrific August. After posting a 1.69 ERA in June, it went up to 4.15 in July, and now 7.59 in August. He's given up five runs in his last five innings, spanning three games. With Kenley Jansen back, it's hard to see him getting many meaningful innings with numbers like those.
Speaking of Jansen, another scoreless inning has once again shown the Dodgers that he could compete for the closer's job next year. Or, at the very least, be the top setup man if Javy Guerra continues to be the man. In either case, it's great to see him dominating like we know he can.
With the five-game winning streak snapped, the Dodgers will look to start another one by welcoming San Diego for three starting Monday. They'll have a good chance at another streak, as Clayton Kershaw toes the rubber looking for his 17th win.
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