Dodgers’ Offense Absent in Series Opener at Dodger Stadium
The Rockies remain undefeated against the Dodgers in 2024, a surprising stat underscored by Colorado’s 4-1 victory on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. In a lackluster performance, the Dodgers’ offense failed to deliver against Dakota Hudson, who had entered the game with seven losses in eight decisions.
Hudson delivered an impressive performance, facing Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman a combined nine times without allowing a hit. Despite Hudson’s shaky start to the season, he shut down the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup, leaving no room for excuses from the lower order.
Rockies manager Bud Black got seven scoreless innings from Hudson but pushed his luck by sending him out for the eighth. Hudson allowed the first two batters to reach base before being pulled. With the bases loaded and the Dodgers trailing 4-0, Betts came to the plate as the tying run but grounded into a double play. Ohtani walked, bringing Freeman up as the potential tying run, but he struck out against reliever Jalen Beeks.
The importance of routine and proper preparation was evident, as Dodgers’ starter Walker Buehler struggled after an extended time off. Buehler’s first inning set the tone, with the Rockies loading the bases before he managed to escape without damage. However, the third inning saw back-to-back RBI singles by Kris Bryant and Brendan Rodgers, giving Colorado a 3-0 lead. Ezequiel Tovar added a solo homer in the fourth, extending the lead to 4-0.
Buehler settled down after the rough start, finishing six innings with seven strikeouts on 92 pitches. He allowed four runs (three earned), largely due to an error by Andy Pages in the third inning.
Game Highlights:
- Home Run: Ezequiel Tovar (8)
- Winning Pitcher: Dakota Hudson (2-7): 7+ IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts
- Losing Pitcher: Walker Buehler (1-3): 6 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, 7 strikeouts
- Save: Jalen Beeks (6): 1⅓ IP, 2 strikeouts
Up Next:
The Dodgers will look to bounce back on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PT. The pitching matchup will feature Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers against Cal Quantrill for the Rockies. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet LA and MLB Network.
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