Dodgers fall behind early, can't recover in loss to Rockies

The Dodgers found themselves in a hole too deep to fully dig out of, dropping the series opener to the Rockies 7-4 on Friday night at Coors Field in Denver.

Three home runs in the fourth inning proved to be the difference, and kept the Dodgers' magic number to clinch the National League West at three.

With a 1-1 tie in the third inning, Carlos Gonzalez walked to open the frame, the third consecutive inning Mike Bolsinger issued a walk. One out later, a Corey Dickerson double cashed in that run for Colorado, who were able to put up a crooked number in the inning thanks to a little help.

A hard ground ball went under the glove and through the legs of Adrian Gonzalez at first base to bring home one run, then Rafael Ynoa tripled with two outs to score another.

The Rockies padded their lead in the fourth inning with three more runs, this time the old fashioned way, with three solo home runs, all of Bolsinger, who was visited by team trainer Stan Conte after the second home run but stayed in the game to finish out the inning.

Bolsinger allowed three home runs in 16 starts during the season's first four months, totaling 89 innings. Since rejoining the team in September, Bolsinger has allowed seven home runs in four starts, in 17 innings.

The Dodgers' inability to score more than their lone first-inning run against David Hale meant by the time this became a bullpen game the Rockies already held a six-run advantage.

A scratch run in the sixth was followed by a two-run single by Howie Kendrick in the seventh to cut the deficit to three runs, but both innings so the Dodgers leave two runners on base.

It was a case of too little, too late for Los Angeles.

Up next

Brett Anderson makes start number 30 for the Dodgers on Saturday night, opposed by Kyle Kendrick of the Rockies.

Friday particulars

Home runs: Charlie Blackmon (17), Carlos Gonzalez (38), Corey Dickerson (8)

WP - David Hale (5-5): 5 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

LP - Mike Bolsinger (6-5): 4 IP, 7 hits, 7 runs (4 earned runs), 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

Sv - John Axford (25): 1 IP, 1 strikeout