Los Angeles Dodgers: Home runs needed for first place

After defeating the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Friday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers head into Saturday’s contest with a shot at first place.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may not have done it pretty but the team did it nonetheless; LA grinded to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night to snap its five-game winning streak and to move to half a game back of the division lead.

The game was highlighted by Clayton Kershaw and the rest of the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Kershaw allowed two runs over six innings of work and the bullpen stepped up to seal the deal. Kershaw, in case you didn’t hear, moved to 103-0 when getting four or more runs of support.

As for the offense, the bats were out early as a Cody Bellinger double and Yasiel Puig home run gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. It was the final two runs of the game that the Dodgers had to fight and claw for.

Manny Machado and Max Muncy worked two straight no-out walks in the top of the fifth inning. Cody Bellinger struck out swinging and with Enrique Hernandez at the plate, Chris Rusin balked to move the runners to second and third.

Hernandez grounded into a fielder’s choice at home, no runs scored. However, Alex Verdugo reached first on a fielding error from Nolan Arenado that plated the Dodgers’ third run. Yasiel Puig then hit a chopper into the outfield to give the Dodgers the final tally of 4-2.

As for our Los Angeles Dodgers Beat the Streak, I successfully called Puig’s home run in his return from a two-game suspension. Sarah’s pick. Brian Dozier, had no at-bats, so her streak remains at zero.

Sarah’s pick — Current streak 0: Cody Bellinger

My pick for tonight is one of the Dodgers strongest hitters, Cody Bellinger. Last night the Dodgers won a must-win game and that’s major. The lineup out-hit the Rockies and Kershaw out-pitched Jon Gray.

Tonight the Dodgers send out another strong starter, Walker Buehler. Buehler is quickly making a name for himself in LA and is simultaneously making this team that much better.

Pitching in Denver can be hard, however, and the Dodgers are going to need to give him run support and to do that they’ll need the help of a strong hitter like Bellinger.

Jason’s pick — Current streak 3: Manny Machado

While I have all the confidence in the world in Walker Buehler, as Sarah said, pitching in Denver can be tough, especially for a rookie pitcher. Buehler has made two starts in Coors Field, throwing 12 innings while allowing four runs with eight strikeouts.

A 3.00 ERA is not bad for a rookie in Coors Field but the Dodger bats should still be looking to give the rookie as much cushion as possible to make it easier for him and a bullpen that worked hard last night.

Thus, I have to go with arguably the best hitter on the team, Manny Machado (or Justin Turner, depending on who you ask).

Machado and the Dodgers are facing a solid southpaw in Kyle Freeland, who boasts an ERA under three on the season. Machado is 1-3 off of Freeland in his career and will raise that batting average with two extra-base hits, one of which being a home run, on Saturday.