September 22nd 2024.
On a Saturday night in Los Angeles, the Colorado Rockies faced off against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite being in last place, the Rockies managed to regroup after blowing a three-run lead and ultimately came out on top with a 6-3 win. Ryan McMahon's tiebreaking homer in the fifth inning proved to be the deciding factor in the game.
However, the Dodgers' loss also had a larger impact on the league as a whole. With 92 wins, it was now impossible for any team in the major leagues to reach 100 wins this season. This was the first time since 2014 that this had happened, not including the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. The Dodgers' lead in the division also decreased to just three games over the second-place San Diego Padres, who had just defeated the Chicago White Sox.
Despite the loss, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani continued to make headlines. In the ninth inning, he stole his 53rd base of the season, further solidifying his status as one of the most exciting players in the league. Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings praised Ohtani's speed on the bases, saying that it felt like he could reach second base in just five steps.
Ohtani, who had just been crowned the 50-50 king, also made an impact at the plate. Although he remained at 52 home runs, he still managed to make his mark with a single, a walk, and a run scored. It was also his final giveaway night of the season, with the first 40,000 fans in attendance receiving an Ohtani T-shirt. However, his two previous bobblehead promotions had caused some traffic issues and long lines.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs, giving them a chance to tie or win the game. However, Rockies pitcher Seth Halvorsen managed to strike out Max Muncy, earning his first major league save. Halvorsen had only found out he would be pitching the ninth inning after the eighth, but according to Stallings, he remained calm and composed throughout the high-pressure situation.
McMahon's homer off Dodgers starter Walker Buehler was his fifth consecutive 20-homer season, solidifying his role as a key player for the Rockies. Four of the Rockies' six runs came from two-out, two-strike hits, including Charlie Blackmon's two-run homer in the ninth inning off Daniel Hudson. However, fans were not pleased with Rockies reliever Luis Peralta, who hit Ohtani with a pitch in the sixth inning. This was Ohtani's first season without pitching, as he was still recovering from elbow surgery in 2023.
Despite the early lead for the Rockies, the Dodgers managed to tie the game at 3-3 with Mookie Betts' two-run homer in the third inning and Hunter Feduccia's RBI single in the fourth. Buehler had a strong performance on the mound, striking out a season-high nine batters and only allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings. However, he expressed frustration at not being able to make the big pitches when it mattered most.
On the other side, Rockies starter Cal Quantrill also had a solid outing, allowing just three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He credited his team's bullpen for their strong performance in recent weeks, which gave him the freedom to pitch the way he wanted to.
In terms of injuries, Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle was scratched for the second straight day, while Dodgers left-handed pitcher Anthony Banda could be returning soon from the injured list.
In the next game, the Rockies will have right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela on the mound for his second start since returning from a 16-month rehab following Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers will have right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto making his third start since coming off the injured list.
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