Dodgers pick up first win of season in strange night at Coors Field

I don’t even know where to begin with this one.

Trevor Bauer was pitching a no-hitter. Coors Field stuff happened in the seventh inning. There was a cat that ran on the field. Ultimately, the Dodgers won the game 11-6 and picked up their first win of the season.

Let’s try and recap this one in case you missed it, because you missed a dandy. How about we begin with Bauer, who made his Dodgers debut on Friday night. He was fantastic through the first six innings, and when I say fantastic... I mean it.

Bauer didn’t allow a hit through the first six innings and had nine strikeouts, and he just looked untouchable out there. Then, the seventh inning from hell happened. Just like that, Bauer went from nine outs away from a no-hitter to allowing four runs. He allowed two two-run home runs and all of a sudden his dominant outing turned into a decent outing.

Still, don’t let the box score fool you. He looked fantastic and his stuff was electric. He finished the night with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

On to the offense. They were quite good. After going 0-for-100 with runners in scoring position and stranding 25 runners on base in the opener, the offense flipped a switch and were quite clutch tonight. They were 8-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

Through two games this season, the Dodgers have scored 16 runs and have 31 hits. Remarkably, they still don’t have a home run.*

*They technically do, but the MLB rulebook says they don’t

The Dodgers hit four singles in the top half of the first inning, including RBI knocks from Max Muncy and Will Smith, putting them up 2-0 very quickly. They added two more runs in the second inning thanks to three consecutive doubles with two outs, extending their lead to 4-0.

LA loaded the bases in the fourth inning and Justin Turner brought in two with an RBI single. Cody Bellinger brought in another with a groundout. Speaking of Turner, he now has reached base in 34 consecutive games dating back to last season, the longest active streak in Major-League Baseball.

The Dodgers sprinkled in a few more runs throughout the game to give them 11.

Oh, and how could I possibly forget. There was a cat that ran onto the field. #COORS

Other notes from the game

• David Price made his Dodgers debut out of the bullpen. He threw 1 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing two runs and striking out two
• Corey Seager reached base four times. He’s now reached base eight times through two games.

Friday particulars

WP: Trevor Bauer (1-0) 6 ¹⁄₃ IP, 4 ER, 10 SO, 2 BB

LP: Antonio Senzatela (0-1) 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 7 ER, 9 H

HR: Charlie Blackmon (1) Dom Nunez (1) Ryan McMahon (1) Sam Hilliard (1)

Box score

Up next

Walker Buehler takes the mound on Saturday for his first start of 2021. He’ll look to put the Dodgers above .500 for the first time this season as he takes on Jon Gray. First pitch is at 5:10 p.m. PT.