Gonzalez Hits 2 HRs Before Injury As Rockies Beat Dodgers, 12-2
DENVER (AP) — Carlos Gonzalez homered twice before leaving with an apparent ankle injury and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-2 Wednesday night.
Gonzalez had his 19th multi-homer game of his career with Nos. 22 and 23 this season for Colorado. He was forced to exit the game in bottom of seventh after he appeared to roll his left ankle at the plate.
Nolan Arenado, Mark Reynolds and DJ LeMahieu also went deep in the win for Colorado, which has won 11 of 13 to move above the .500 mark for the first time since May 18.
The Rockies' latest streak has them within three games of the second NL wild card, with three teams between them and St. Louis. Gonzalez missing any substantial amount of time would hamper any postseason hopes — especially since rookie shortstop Trevor Story (thumb) was already lost for the remainder of the season.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was moved to the 60-day disabled list earlier in the day, and right-hander Louis Coleman (shoulder fatigue) and left-hander Adam Liberatore were also placed on the DL — giving Los Angeles an NL-record 25 players put there this season.
Arenado hit a three-run home run to spark a five-run first inning off Los Angeles starter Brock Stewart (0-2). Reynolds added a two-run blast put the Rockies ahead 5-2.
Arenado hit a three-run home run and Reynolds added a two-run shot in a five-run first inning off Los Angeles starter Brock Stewart (0-2).
Later, LeMahieu and Gonzalez homered as part of a four-run fifth. Gonzales went deep again in the sixth.
Tyler Anderson (4-3) allowed two runs in seven innings for Colorado. He struck out six and walked two. His lone blemish came in the first inning when Justin Turner hit a two-run home run.
SCOREBOARD WATCHING
"(This is) when the fun starts," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of the wild-card race. "This is time of year where you get to watch the scoreboard and you're paying attention to the other games. There's that focus and emphasis on your game every night, to win every night. That's fun.
"It's a lot easier showing up to the ballpark under those circumstances."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Kershaw (back) won't be eligible to return until Aug. 27 at the earliest. ... LHP Rich Hill (hand) threw around 50 pitches in a bullpen session Wednesday. "He looked real good and executed all his pitches," Roberts said. ... RHP Bud Norris threw a bullpen session and could make his next start this weekend.
Rockies: SS Story (thumb) will undergo surgery Thursday in Denver. Story suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in Saturday's win over the Mets.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (9-7, 3.23 ERA) has had some early success against the Rockies this season. In two starts against Colorado, the Japanese pitcher has allowed just one run and struck out 17 in 13 innings.
Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (10-6, 3.50 ERA) has allowed just one run and four hits in his previous two starts. Less impressive is the fact that he also gave up 12 walks in 12 innings during those starts.
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