Carlos Gonzalez spoils Dodgers comeback party

A game that pretty much began with a Rockies home run also ended with one, with Carlos Gonzalez hitting a walk-off two-run shot off Yimi Garcia in the ninth inning to beat the Dodgers 8-6 on Saturday night at Coors Field.

Garcia got the final two outs of the eighth inning, punctuating four more scoreless innings from the bullpen after a poor start by Brett Anderson.

But sent out for a second inning of work in the ninth in a tie game, Garcia allowed a single to D.J. LeMahieu, then saw a 3-1 pitch hit over the center field wall to give Colorado a second straight win.

The Dodgers, who maybe four hours ago had thoughts of a possible Saturday night division clinch, see their magic number remain at two.

Anderson short again

Anderson had a rough start to his night, with each of the first three batters reaching base to load the bases in the first inning, two by infield hits. Then, cleanup man Nolan Arenado did his job by hitting one about as far as possible from the infield, well over the center field wall for a grand slam and a lightning quick 4-0 Rockies advantage.

The next two batters each singled, meaning the first six Rockies all got hits to open the game, though Anderson was able to keep them from scoring.

With three hits in the first inning never reaching the outfield, Anderson increased his total to 47 infield hits allowed on the season, 12 more than any other pitcher in the majors.

But it wasn't infield hits or ground balls with eyes that scored single runs in the second and third inning. Charlie Blackmon tripled and scored in the second inning, and Colorado got back-to-back doubles from Corey Dickerson and Justin Morneau in the third inning for a 6-2 lead.

With Anderson's spot in the batting order due up, his night ended after just four innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits.

But the Dodgers would claw back.

Extra-base Ethier

The Dodgers cut into that quick Rockies lead with a two-run home run in the second inning by Andre Ethier, a no-doubter into the right field seats. Then, down three in the sixth inning, the Dodgers opened with four straight hits, the last of which was a double by Ethier to tie the game at 6-6.

It was the 300th career double for Ethier, the ninth player in Dodgers history to reach that milestone and fourth since the club moved west in 1958. He is two behind Eric Karros for eighth place on the all-time Dodgers doubles list.

Ethier now has 491 extra-base hits in his career, also ninth in franchise history.

Eager Seager

Corey Seager returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, getting the call at shortstop, and started the three-run tying rally in the sixth inning with a triple to left center field. It was the first major league triple for Seager, who has now reached base in each of his first 19 major league starts, five games shy of Jim Gilliam's franchise record, set in 1953.

Seager also has 12 extra-base hits (eight doubles, three home runs and that triple), tied with Gibby Brack (1937) for second-most by a Dodger in their first 20 career games (since 1914), one behind Del Bissonette (1928).

Nice catch

The Rockies had designs on retaking the lead earlier than the ninth, with Gonzalez in scoring position with two outs in the seventh inning. Dickerson lined one into the left center field gap, but Joc Pederson kept the game tied at that point with this tremendous catch.

Joc Pederson robs the Rockies. http://t.co/SaSRoNr5Yg pic.twitter.com/fOr6D9l7Dg

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) September 27, 2015

Up next

The Dodgers try to salvage a game in the series on Sunday afternoon, with Alex Wood on the mound, possibly with a chance to clinch the National League West, if the A's cooperate in Oakland. The Rockies will send left-hander Chris Rusin to the hill for the series finale.

Saturday particulars

Home runs: Andre Ethier (14); Nolan Arenado (40), Carlos Gonzalez (39)

WP - Justin Miller (3-2): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts

LP - Yimi Garcia (3-4): ⅔ IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 strikeout