Colorado Rockies: Gray Wolf extinct in Los Angeles

Colorado Rockies(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Rockies rolled into their three-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers holding a narrow one-game lead in the NL West.

They ended the night on the losing end of an 8-2 drubbing by the Dodgers.  Jon Gray, the Colorado Rockies opening day starter, has regressed.  Gray spent time in Albuquerque mid-season and seemed to regain his form from that stint.

In the first, Gray gave up a leadoff home run to the Dodgers Joc Pederson, a walk to Max Muncy, a single to Yasiel Puig and uncorked a wild pitch that scored Muncy.

Bottom of the first, 2-0 Dodgers.  First-inning trouble seems to be the way for this Colorado squad but particularly Gray.

The wheels completely came off in the third for Gray,  with a Pederson double, singles from Justin Turner and Manny Machado and then a Muncy home run and Puig single to mercifully end Gray’s night.

Harrison Musgrave would get Colorado out of the inning but have his own struggles in the fourth, walking Hyun-Jin Ryu before another home run for Pederson.

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The Rockies once again faltered at the plate, managing only six hits and two runs.

The most significant development of the night was the injury to Rockies shortstop Trevor Story.  Story left the game in the fourth with elbow soreness.  The Rockies star and MVP-candidate made a diving stop and throw in the first that tweaked something in his elbow.  Rockies manager Bud Black termed the move “precautionary”.

The losses from this game were huge for the Rockies.  They lost the game, lost the division lead and lost Trevor Story.  We can only suppose they are staying true to their cardiac kid nature and keeping us on the edge of our seats for the remainder of the season.

Regardless, Colorado needs to take the next two in Los Angeles or risk playing catch-up for the final 14 games.

Tuesday will mark the marquee matchup of the series with Colorado Cy Young candidate Kyle Freeland taking the mound against Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw.