Dodgers Week 16: Coors Field getaway

The Dodgers continued their offensive barrage after the four-day All-Star break to take two out of three against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Sure, things could have been better, like completing the sweep on Sunday instead of blowing a pair of late leads. And the Dodgers probably could have done without seeing Mookie Betts leave on Saturday with right hip irritation and Gavin Lux exit Sunday with a hamstring injury.

But in the big picture, the Dodgers remain a game back in the National League West, and face the team ahead of them seven times in the next 11 days.

“This is a relentless team,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “You just see it’s kind of next man up, and guys pick each other up.”

Batter of the week

Mookie Betts aggravated a nagging hip injury on Saturday night, but that was the only thing that slowed him down of late. Betts in two games against the Rockies had seven hits in nine at-bats, including four doubles and a home run, and scored five times. “As he goes, we go,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Betts narrowly beat out catcher Will Smith, who also played in two games against Colorado but still put up gaudy numbers, driving in seven runs with his five hits in eight at-bats.

Honorable mention goes to Max Muncy, who had an 1.108 OPS and started at designated hitter in the All-Star Game. All while being ready to leave at a moment’s notice to be with his wife, Kellie, who is expecting the couple’s first child at any moment. Zach Reks, who was optioned to Triple-A Friday, rejoined the Dodgers on Saturday to be on the taxi squad in case Muncy needed to leave.

After driving in a career-best five runs with a career-high four hits, including two home runs on Saturday, Muncy told Kirsten Watson on SportsNet LA, “I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about the game too much. My mind’s a little elsewhere right now.”

Pitcher of the week

Walker Buehler made his second All-Star team but was a spectator on Tuesday at Coors Field. Four days later, the Dodgers right-hander struck out eight and retired his final 13 batters faced, pitching seven innings for a team-leading seventh time this season.

“The expectation is for the guys in [the rotation] to save our bullpen and go deep,” Buehler said. “It’s been a focus of mine.”

Week 16 results

2-1 record
24 runs scored (8.00 per game)
12 runs allowed (4.00 per game)
.780 pythagorean win percentage

Year to date

58-36 record
500 runs scored (5.32 per game)
346 runs allowed (3.68 per game)
.662 pythagorean win percentage (62-32)

Miscellany

All-Star performers: Max Muncy was the first Dodger to start at designated hitter in an All-Star Game. He was 0-for-2 with a groundout and popout. Justin Turner replaced him at DH in the sixth inning and was 1-for-2, his eighth-inning single the first hit by a Dodger in the midsummer classic since Matt Kemp’s double in 2018. Chris Taylor played the final four innings in centerfield, and was 0-for-2 with a groundout and strikeout. Walker Buehler, named to his second All-Star Game, did not pitch on Tuesday.

Also, honorary National League coach Reggie Smith made a pitching change.

Photo courtesy of Oregon Ducks Baseball

Getting their Ducks in a row: Before this season, the Dodgers only had five players from the University of Oregon — Gordon Slade, Barney Koch, Bill Sayles, Dick Whitman, Kyle Garlick — with Garlick the only one after 1949. But since December the Dodgers have slowly added Ducks pitchers to their bullpen, and in the first game after the All-Star break they used all three Oregon relievers in succession. Garrett Cleavinger, Jake Reed, and Jimmie Sherfy recorded the final eight outs of Friday’s win over the Rockies, the first time all three appeared in the same game since June 3, 2013, when all three were teammates at Oregon.

First-hit club: Speaking of relievers, Phil Bickford got the final out of the sixth inning on Friday in Denver, then batted in the seventh. It was just the second plate appearance for Bickford either as a professional or in college, dating back to 2014 (the other came on July 4 in Washington D.C.). Bickford singled, making him the fifth Dodger to collect his first major league hit in 2021. The others: fellow reliever Garrett Cleavinger (a double on July 10), Andy Burns (June 12), DJ Peters (double on May 8), and Luke Raley (double on April 14).

Scoring sensation: David Price beat out an infield single in the third inning on Sunday at Coors Field, then scored on Justin Turner’s home run. It was the first run scored as a professional for Price, who was drafted first overall in 2007. Playing 12 of his 13 major league seasons in the American League limited his opportunities for such things, but Price has managed 59 plate appearances as a pro. Now, he has a run scored in his ledger.

Transactions

Tuesday: Pitcher Jimmie Sherfy was claimed off waivers from the Giants, and pitcher Bobby Wahl was designated for assignment.

Friday: Sherfy was added to the active roster, and outfielder Zach Reks was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Game results

• Tuesday: American League 5, National League 2
• Friday: Dodgers 10, Rockies 4
• Saturday: Dodgers 9, Rockies 2
• Sunday: Rockies 6, Dodgers 5 (10 innings)

Previous reviews: Apr. 1-4 | Apr. 5-11 | Apr. 12-18 | Apr. 19-25 | Apr. 26-May 2 | May 3-9 | May 10-16 | May 17-23 | May 24-30 | May 31-June 6 | June 7-13 | June 14-20 | June 21-27 | June 28-July 4 | July 5-11

Up next

The Dodgers run the Cristhian Adames gauntlet, with a seven-game homestand featuring a showdown series against the Giants and three more games against the Rockies next weekend. I’m penciling in Josiah Gray as the Tuesday starter for the Dodgers because it makes the most logical sense, though that hasn’t been announced just yet. The weekend rotation for Colorado is guesswork, with many variables including the Rockies’ recent COVID outbreak and off days both Monday and Thursday this week.