Third time no charm for Mike Bolsinger, Dodgers in loss to Rockies

A four-run rally in the sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by Trevor Story, told the grim tale of the Dodgers' demise, in a 6-1 loss to the Rockies on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

Mike Bolsinger struck out five of his first 15 batters faced, taking a 1-1 game into the fifth inning, allowing to that point only a solo home run by Gerardo Parra. But the Rockies scratched across the go-ahead run in the fifth inning, then saw Bolsinger stretch past his breaking point in the sixth.

Bolsinger in his first three starts this season faced 21, 21, and then 20 batters. His 21st batter on Wednesday was Nolan Arenado, who singled home Charlie Blackmon for a 3-1 Rockies lead, then took second on an ill-advised throw home by Trayce Thompson in center field.

This brought up the left-handed Carlos Gonzalez, with eight home runs in his last 10 games. Left-hander Adam Liberatore was already warmed up by this point, and Bolsinger had allowed four of the previous six batters to reach base, with one of the outs a sacrifice bunt.

But rather than use the options his eight-man bullpen provides manager Dave Roberts instead opted to walk Gonzalez and let Bolsinger stay in to face the right-handed Story.

The move backfired when Story launched his 16th home run of the season into the left field pavilion, a three-run shot thanks to the walk, giving the Rockies a five-run advantage and belatedly ending Bolsinger's night. He has failed to complete six innings in each of his last 10 major league starts, dating back to 2015.

In his career, Bolsinger has allowed batters facing him his third time through the order to hit 331/.412/.597, including .310/.430/.552 since joining the Dodgers.

The Dodgers offense couldn't get much of anything going against Tyler Chatwood on Monday. They rallied for a single run in the second inning, a frame that saw Howie Kendrick advance Adrian Gonzalez from first to third base on a single.

That was the only hit Chatwood allowed all night.

The Rockies right-hander pitched eight innings on Monday, striking out five while walking four. On the season he has allowed all of four runs (three earned) in 41⅔ innings on the road, improving to 5-0 with a 0.65 ERA in six starts away from Coors Field.

The Dodgers saw their seven-game home winning streak snapped with the loss, and fell to 12-11 this season against the National League West, including 5-5 at Dodger Stadium.

Up next

Speaking of Dodgers pitchers not expected to pitch deep into a game, Julio Urias makes his first start at Dodger Stadium in the middle game of the series. Colorado will turn to Eddie Butler on Tuesday night, a 7:10 p.m. PT start.

Monday partiiculars

Home runs: Gerardo Parra (5), Trevor Story (16)

WP - Tyler Chatwood (7-4): 8 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts

LP - Mike Bolsinger (1-3): 5⅓ IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts