Dodgers' NL West lead down to 3 with loss to Rockies

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd September, 24:42 2024

Sep 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings (25) slides into home plate to score against Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia (67) during the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Ryan McMahon hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, Charlie Blackmon went deep in the ninth and the visiting Colorado Rockies leaned into their bullpen to pull off a 6-3 victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

McMahon reached 20 home runs for the fourth consecutive season and fifth straight not counting the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Four Colorado relievers held Los Angeles scoreless over the final 4 1/3 innings as Victor Vodnik (5-3) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win. Seth Halvorsen loaded the bases in the ninth before earning his first career save as Colorado evened the three-game series.

Mookie Betts hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers, who saw their lead in the National League West get cut to three games over the San Diego Padres. Los Angeles' magic number for clinching their 11th division title in 12 seasons remained at five.

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (1-6), trying to lock down a postseason spot on a staff that has limited options, gave up four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings with a season-high nine strikeouts.

After reaching 52 home runs with 52 stolen bases in Friday's series opener, Los Angeles star Shohei Ohtani had a single, a walk, a stolen base, a run scored and reached base three times.

The Rockies jumped on Buehler early when Blackmon led off the game with a double and scored on a fielder's choice from Michael Toglia. They made it 3-0 in the second on a two-run double from Ezequiel Tovar.

The Dodgers pulled to within a run in the third on a two-out walk to Ohtani and a two-run home run to left field by Betts, his 18th.

Los Angeles got even 3-3 in the fourth on a single from rookie Hunter Feduccia for his first career RBI. Colorado moved back in front 4-3 in the fifth on McMahon's two-out home run off Buehler.

Miguel Rojas and Ohtani each were hit by a Luis Peralta pitch in the sixth, with Ohtani grazed by an 82-mph breaking ball on the guard protecting his surgically repaired right elbow. But Betts grounded into a double play against Vodnik to end the threat.

Blackmon hit his second home run in two nights, a two-run shot in the ninth. It was his 11th of the season.

--Field Level Media

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