Dodgers offense sputters in another loss to Rockies

Left-handed pitchers continued to have their way with the Dodgers, with Tyler Anderson beating the team for the second time in a month in the Dodgers’ 7-0 loss at Coors Field.

The Dodgers have scored just one run in two games at Coors Field, and have only 10 total runs in their last seven games. In a note that should be familiar from the first game of this series, when the Dodgers didn’t score until the ninth inning, Wednesday marked just the fifth time the Dodgers have been shutout in 24 seasons of coming to Denver, and the first time since Aug. 27, 2012.

The Dodgers entering Wednesday were hitting just .219/.298/.343 against left-handed pitchers, dead last in the National League in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, wOBA (.282) and 13th in wRC+ (76).

It was more of the same on Wednesday against the rookie Anderson, who shut them down pitching into the seventh in the opener of a doubleheader, lasting at least six innings for the 12th time in his 16 major league starts.

Anderson walked two and struck out five, including three in the sixth inning when the Dodgers had runners at the corners with one out.

The Dodgers scored a pair of runs in the first inning against Anderson at Coors Field on Aug. 3, but since then he held them scoreless for each of the next 12⅓ frames.

Anderson also helped himself at the plate, with a two-out RBI single in the second inning.

But after allowing two runs on five hits in the first two innings, Ross Stripling settled down for a bit, allowing two hits and a walk over his next three innings. But doubles by David Dahl and Gerardo Parra added another run to Stripling’s ledger, putting the Dodgers down 3-0 in the sixth inning.

A quality start at Coors Field usually produces good results. Stripling’s was just the 65th quality start by the Dodgers in 24 years in Denver, and the Dodgers are 54-11 (.831) in those games.

But Anderson also had a quality start for the Rockies, their 16th straight home win over the Dodgers when they got a quality start (thanks to Purple Row for that nugget).

Stephen Cardullo, who played independent league ball from 2012-2015, hit his first major league home run, on his 29th birthday no less, against reliever Casey Fien in the seventh inning. Then Colorado added three in the eighth against J.P. Howell to provide the final margin.

Game 1 particulars

Home run: Stephen Cardullo (1)

WP - Tyler Anderson (5-5): 6⅓ IP, 6 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts.

LP - Ross Stripling (3-6): 6 IP, 9 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts