You can’t say Dodger games aren’t exciting these days. Not sure I’ve seen this linescore in the final two innings before …
Dodgers 001 000 022 - 5 Rockies 000 011 033 - 8
Jason Giambi’s pinch-hit, three-run home run off Scott Elbert ended the game of leapfrog in the bottom of the ninth, giving Colorado an 8-5 victory over Los Angeles.
The frolic began after the Dodgers, who took a 1-0 lead in the third when Mark Ellis drove home A.J. Ellis with a single, fell behind on solo homers off Clayton Kershaw (who brought a career ERA at Coors Field of 5.88 into the game) by Carlos Gonzalez in the fourth and Wilin Rosario in the fifth. It remained that way after Jerry Hairston Jr. was erroneously called out to end the sixth.
In the top of the eighth, Hairston got another chance after singles by newly crowned NL April Player of the Month Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier — and delivered a two-run double for a 3-2 lead.
Kershaw had only thrown 81 pitches to that point and looked like he might be a good bet for a complete-game victory, but it didn’t happen. He allowed three runs, capped by Gonzalez’s second homer of the game — the first time in Kershaw’s career he’s allowed a homer hat trick to another team.
But even against Rafael Betancourt, who had allowed one run in 10 innings all season, the Dodgers weren’t done. Adam Kennedy, whose .095 batting average nearly mirrored Betancourt’s 0.90 ERA, singled. Two outs later and with Kennedy stuck on first, the Rockies walked Kemp intentionally rather than give him the chance to tie the game with one swing. (For Kemp, it was the sixth game of at least three walks in his career, something I predicted after noting Juan Rivera batting behind him and a left-hander starting the game.
That brought to the plate Dee Gordon, who was in the cleanup spot thanks to a double switch in the previous inning. On a 2-2 pitch, Gordon doubled and tied the game at 5.
Jamey Wright, who had finished the eighth inning for the Dodgers, came back out in the ninth and immediately dug a hole by walking Eric Young, Jr. and Marco Scutaro. A sacrifice bunt later, Giambi came up in place of Dexter Fowler, and Scott Elbert — whose career lowpoint came at Coors Field two Mays ago — gave up the game-winning blast on a 1-0 fastball.