Guerrero's Slam Helps Dodgers Beat Rockies, 9-8, To Split Doubleheader
DENVER (AP) — Alex Guerrero hit a grand slam off reliever Rafael Betancourt with two outs in the top of the ninth, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers rally for a 9-8 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night and salvage a doubleheader split.
The Rockies beat the Dodgers 6-3 in the opener behind the pitching of Jorge De La Rosa. The game was a makeup of a rainout May 9.
Guerrero sent a 1-2 fastball from Betancourt (2-2) to the deepest part of Coors Field, just eluding the glove of leaping center fielder Charlie Blackmon. The crowd waited to see if Blackmon had the baseball as he fell to the warning track. He didn't.
It was Guerrero's first career grand slam and fourth homer of the day for the Dodgers.
Joc Pederson homered in a fourth straight game in the opener, and Kike Hernandez and Adrian Gonzalez went deep in Game 2.
Josh Ravin (1-0) earned the win in his major league debut by getting one out in the eighth. Kenley Jansen pitched a shaky ninth for his fifth save.
The Rockies rallied from an early four-run deficit. Troy Tulowitzki gave the Rockies a 7-5 lead with a two-run homer in the seventh. But the bullpen couldn't hold it, even after Brandon Barnes added an RBI single in the eighth for another insurance run.
Rockies manager Walt Weiss went with Betancourt in the ninth over regular closer John Axford, who earned a save in the afternoon game. Betancourt gave up three straight singles, before striking out Justin Turner and getting Pederson to fly out to left.
That set the stage for Guerrero.
The ninth was far from smooth for Jansen, who gave up a one-out double to Carlos Gonzalez. He struck out Ben Paulsen to end the game with Gonzalez standing on third.
Zack Greinke entered the game tied for the best ERA in baseball, but gave up a season-high five runs in six innings to watch it go from 1.48 to 1.97. He also allowed a season-most 10 hits.
David Hale gave up three early homers, before settling into a rhythm and lasting six innings. He was added as a 26th player before the game.
The righty is auditioning for a permanent spot in the rotation now that Jordan Lyles is sidelined by a left big toe injury.
In the opener, De La Rosa (2-2) allowed three runs and struck out six for his 71st win with the Rockies, one shy of matching Aaron Cook's team record. The lefty had his start pushed back twice because of a cut he got from the seams on a baseball.
Axford pitched around a leadoff single in the ninth for his 10th save.
Ian Thomas (0-1) allowed four runs in three innings after taking over for Juan Nicasio, who made a spot start against his former team. Thomas was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to be the 26th man for the doubleheader.
Pederson hit his 15th home run, a shot estimated at 477 feet and one of the longer drives in the majors this season. It was a two-run homer in the third.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Scott Van Slyke was put on the 15-day DL with back inflammation. "We think it's a rest thing," Mattingly said. ... RHP Joel Peralta (shoulder soreness) threw on and off the mound Monday.
Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson (plantar fasciitis) said he's experiencing no pain in his foot and hopes to start playing soon. ... Manager Walt Weiss said he's been in contact with 1B Justin Morneau, who's been on the seven-day concussion disabled list since mid-May. "It's difficult for Justin, given his history (with concussions)," Weiss said. "This is a process and have to wait it out." ... Lyles was walking around in a boot. "Don't know if he's going to need surgery or not," Weiss said.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Mike Bolsinger (3-1, 1.15) starts at Coors Field for the first time in his career Wednesday.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (2-0, 2.96) makes his fifth start since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. He took a no-hitter into the eighth during his last start, a 4-1 win in Philadelphia.
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