Rockies 6-3 Dodgers (September 21, 2024) Match Report

LOS ANGELES – Ryan McMahon hit a game-winning home run in the fifth inning and the last-place Colorado Rockies rallied after blowing a three-run lead to beat the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 on Saturday night.

The Dodgers' 92-win loss meant that for the first time since 2014, no major league team will win 100 games, not counting the 60-game, pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Dodgers' lead in the division shrank to three games over second-place San Diego, which beat the Chicago White Sox. Los Angeles managed just one hit after the fifth inning.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani stole his 53rd base in the ninth inning. He has stolen 30 consecutive bases without being caught since July 23.

“He has a big lead and it feels like he's only five steps away from second base,” Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings said.

Ohtani, the newly crowned 50-50 king, stayed with 52 home runs, singles, walks, hits and strikeouts in his final giveaway night of the season. The first 40,000 fans in the sold-out stadium of 52,267 received an Ohtani T-shirt. Previously, his two bobblehead promotions had snarled traffic and caused long lines.

The Dodgers had all the bases loaded with two outs against Seth Halvorsen in the ninth inning. Ohtani hit a single and Freddie Freeman and Tommy Edman managed a walk before Max Muncy went down swinging.

“A really good win for us,” said Rockies starter Cal Quantrill. “At times we struggled to hold the lead. Our bullpen has been great the last few weeks and has given me the freedom to throw the way I wanted.”

Halvorsen made his first save in the major leagues. After the eighth inning, he learned that he would be pitching the ninth inning.

“Seth made a huge impression on all of us older guys,” Stallings said. “He didn't look like his heart rate was fast at all.”

McMahon hit a home run against starter Walker Buehler (1-6), giving the third baseman his fifth consecutive 20-home run season.

Four of the Rockies' six runs came on two-out, two-strike hits, including Charlie Blackmon's two-run homer in the ninth inning against Daniel Hudson.

Fans booed Rockies relief pitcher Luis Peralta (5-3) for hitting Ohtani in the right elbow with a pitch in the sixth inning. Ohtani will not pitch this season as he recovers from elbow surgery he had in September 2023.

Colorado took a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Michael Toglia hit a grounder to Buehler. Buehler's throw to the plate was too high, allowing Blackmon to score after hitting a double and getting to third base on a wild pitch. Ezequiel Tovar hit a double down the left field line in the second inning, scoring two runs with two outs.

The Dodgers pulled within 3-2 in the third inning on Mookie Betts' two-run homer that scored Ohtani, who received a walk. They tied the score at 3-3 on Hunter Feduccia's two-out RBI single in the fourth inning.

Buehler allowed four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, had nine strikeouts (a season high) and one walk.

“I think I've had a few rough patches and really questioned if I had what it took to compete,” Buehler said, “and tonight I felt like I could compete, but I just wasn't making the big throws in the big spots or making little mistakes in the big spots, and that's frustrating.”

Quantrill allowed three runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had five strikeouts and four walks.

“The fight was good,” Quantrill said. “We got the outs when we needed them and we didn't give up.”

TRAINING ROOM

Rockies: CF Brenton Doyle (left knee tendonitis) was ruled out for the second day in a row.

Dodgers: LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) could return as soon as he is eligible to play, which will be Wednesday.

Next

Rockies: RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 6.00 ERA) makes his second start Sunday since returning from a 16-month rehab following Tommy John surgery.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 2.63) makes his third start since coming off the injured list.

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