Shohei Ohtani continues on-base streak, but Dodgers fall to Rockies

Dodgers Fall to Rockies in Close Game

DENVER — On Saturday night, the Dodgers found themselves facing an unusual situation.

For the first time in nearly a week, they were behind early. Entering the game, they were riding a four-game winning streak, although their recent lead had only lasted briefly in an earlier match. Against the Rockies at Coors Field, they started strong but ultimately lost, 4-3, unable to maintain their momentum.

The turning point came in the sixth inning when the Rockies (8 wins, 13 losses) transformed a one-run deficit into a one-run advantage, thanks to Troy Johnston’s two-run double. This hit followed the Dodgers’ opener from reliever Will Klein, who replaced Emmett Sheehan after he allowed two runs over five innings.

Yet, the main issue was the Dodgers’ struggling offense, which couldn’t capitalize effectively. They began with two runs off the second pitch of the game when Shohei Ohtani reached on an error, and Kyle Tucker sent a two-run homer into right field. A third run came in the third inning when backup catcher Dalton Rushing hit his fifth home run, despite being in just his sixth start.

But from that point, they squandered chances. They left two runners on base in the third inning, and after Freddie Freeman’s triple in the sixth, no runs were added. Alex Cole was picked off to end the seventh inning, missing vital chances in the final moments.

In the eighth, a ground ball by Max Muncy ended the inning with the bases loaded, while in the ninth inning, back-to-back doubles from Will Smith and Ohtani almost set the Dodgers up, but Tucker’s flyout concluded the game. Overall, the Dodgers went 0-for-7 with eight runners left on base in scoring positions.

What It Means

At least Ohtani’s impressive on-base streak is intact. When he singled in the ninth, he had previously appeared in two problematic situations. In one instance, Johnston’s ground ball misplay occurred, and in another, Hunter Goodman from Colorado interfered, creating a bases-loaded situation that went to waste.

However, these were recorded as errors and not actual at-bats that positively contributed to Ohtani’s status. To extend his streak to 50 games, he needed a ground ball to escape through the infield, falling just three shy of the Los Angeles record and eight behind the all-time Dodgers’ mark.

Who Is Hot

Tucker had a standout performance, achieving three hits for the second time since joining the Dodgers this season. The highlight was his two-run homer in the first inning, launching a fastball 435 feet into the right-field seats — his third homer this season.

His night was nearly flawless until the final out in the ninth. Currently, he’s on a four-game hitting streak and has recorded extra-base hits in his last three games, although his season average stands at .263 with a .768 OPS.

Who Is Not?

Teoscar Hernandez’s performance has been struggling since he stepped onto the field in Denver. After ending Friday’s game 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, he repeated the dismal effort on Saturday with an 0-for-3 showing that included a walk in the eighth. He found himself in difficult positions, rolling into an inning-ending double play in the first and striking out when the team had runners on base.