Tulowitzki, Arenado Lift Rockies To 7-6 Win Over Dodgers
DENVER (AP) — Troy Tulowitzki homered and drove in five runs, Nolan Arenado hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on a rainy Wednesday night.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Arenado sent a fly to left-center. Chris Heisey caught it and threw home, but DJ LeMahieu slid in easily. Arenado was mobbed by teammates after the Rockies overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth.
John Axford (1-0) earned the win following two rain delays that totaled 2 hours, 26 minutes.
Yimi Garcia (2-2) was one of four relievers in the final inning for the Dodgers, but they couldn't hold the lead.
Joc Pederson homered in his fifth straight game, becoming the first Dodgers player to do so in a single season since Matt Kemp in 2010, according to STATS.
A storm delayed the first pitch by 2 hours, 10 minutes, and another shower interrupted the game for 16 minutes in the second inning. The game lasted 3:44 and didn't finish until 12:20 a.m.
Tulowitzki had a three-run homer and drove in another run with a single. He also had a walk that brought in a run. It was his first five-RBI game since April 18, 2014.
Andre Ethier lined a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh to give the Dodgers 5-4 lead. Pederson added a solo shot in the eighth.
Things quickly got dicey for the Dodgers in the ninth, when Adam Liberatore gave up two straight hits to start the inning. Garcia took over and walked LeMahieu to load the bases. Garcia then walked Tulowitzki to make it 6-5.
J.P. Howell entered and threw a pitch that got away from catcher Yasmani Grandal for a passed ball, allowing Charlie Blackmon to scamper home with the tying run. After Carlos Gonzalez was intentionally walked, the Dodgers deployed a five-man infield, but Arenado delivered against Chris Hatcher.
Colorado held a team meeting before the game, trying to forget about Tuesday's loss that Tulowitzki said "stings a little extra." That night, Alex Guerrero hit a ninth-inning grand slam with two outs in a 9-8 Dodgers win.
Chad Bettis gave up two runs, one earned, in six innings before being pulled for a pinch hitter after throwing 102 pitches. He's been splendid over his last three starts, giving up three earned runs in 22 1-3 innings.
Mike Bolsinger allowed a season-high four runs in five innings for the Dodgers. He hadn't permitted more than two runs in any of his previous five starts.
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