Playing through game-long wind that gusted at more than 40 miles per hour, the Dodgers and Rockies sent baseballs flying everywhere, combining for 16 runs and 24 hits. Unfortunately, 10 of those runs and 15 of those hits belonged to the Dodgers as they cruised to victory.
Even though the Rockies had nine hits, they came from only four players: center fielder Charlie Blackmon (two, including a home run), left fielder Gerardo Parra (three), catcher Tony Wolters (two) and second baseman D.J. LeMahieu (two), who came into the game as a pinch-hitter and stayed in for a second at-bat. The No. 3 through No. 7 hitters — including power hitters Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Mark Reynolds — went a combined 0-for-18 on the day as the Dodgers’ pitcher stifled the heart of the Rockies’ order.
PEBBLES:
— SP Tyler Anderson took the loss, and his 2017 campaign certainly hasn’t started the way he wanted. Anderson is the owner of an ugly 8.44 ERA after two starts, and has surrendered a pair of home runs and five walks in his 10-2/3 innings while allowing a whopping .310 batting average to opposing players.
— C Tony Wolters has a reputation as a defensive catcher, and for good reason. But while he’ll never be a power hitter, he’s not a liability with the bat, either. Wolters is sporting a .308 average and .400 on-base percentage, though he has yet to stroke and extra-base hit.
— RP Jordan Lyles has only pitched three innings on the season, but they’ve disastrous. Lyles, miscast as a reliever, but not consistent enough to hold down a spot in the Rockies’ rotation, is sporting a 15.00 ERA. The Rockies’ patience with him may be extremely limited.
— LF Gerardo Parra’s torrid start continues. With another three hits on Sunday, Parra’s average is up to .440 on the season; good for fourth in the National League after the first week of games.
THE FINAL WORD: “Most of his pitches, he didn’t have command of any of them. The (four) walks came back to haunt him.” — Rockies manager Bud Black, on starting pitcher Tyler Anderson’s performance.
NEXT UP: Padres (3-4) at Rockies (5-2), 6:40 PM MT Friday — Jarred Cosart (0-0, 27.00) vs. Tyler Chatwood (0-1, 6.00)
