After dropping three series in a row, the Dodgers got right at the hands of the worst team in baseball, who fought them tooth and nail for three nights in a row. Seven runs in the first inning provided just enough cushion to overcome rotation depth blues and beat the Rockies 8-7 on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium.
Solo home runs by Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman gave the Dodgers the lead in the first inning, which looked like many of the team’s actual scoring chances this season. The Dodgers entered Wednesday averaging just eight plate appearances with runners in scoring position per game, 28th among 30 MLB teams, and below the league-wide average of 9.8 PA per game.
Biggest 2025 Dodgers innings
Date
Opp.
Inning
Runs
Date
Opp.
Inning
Runs
Apr 16
Col
1st
7
Det
10th
5
at Was
1st
4
Col
3rd
4
After the home runs, the Dodgers had two outs and nobody on against Germán Márquez, but the inning was far from over. Michael Conforto beat out a grounder to shortstop Kyle Farmer, Tommy Edman was hit by a pitch, and Max Muncy walked. Andy Pages singled in two, then Austin Barnes’ first hit of the season (in his 14th at-bat) was a two-run double to break the game open.
Ohtani singled home Barnes for a seven-run inning, ending Márquez’s night at 37 pitches and only two outs, matching the shortest start of his career.
Seven runs was the Dodgers’ biggest inning of the season by far. Before Wednesday, the Dodgers only scored seven runs or more in a game three times, topping out at eight once.
Another spot(ty) start
Bobby Miller labored in his own right, needing 29 pitches to get through the first inning. Only one run scored on his three hits allowed in the opening frame, but he gave most of the lead back in a disastrous third inning that included a grand slam and a solo home run.
It was a weird night for Miller, who struck out seven and walked only one, after walking 21 percent of batters faced in his three Triple-A starts this season. But he let a big inning mushroom on him again, and allowed eight hits and six runs, including the two home runs in the five-run third.
By triggering a Jack-in-the-Box promotion with his seventh strikeout in the same inning he allowed two home runs, Miller facilitated three jumbo jacks in a matter of minutes. His night was done after three innings and 84 pitches.
With Blake Snell on the injured list, coupled with a pair of stretches of six game days in a row, the Dodgers have relied on their pitching depth from Triple-A to cover four starts in the last nine days. The results so far have been terrible, with Justin Wrobleski, Landon Knack (twice), and Miller allowing a combined 21 runs on 24 hits in 14â…” innings, with five home runs allowed, 10 walks, and 15 strikeouts.
Unless they activate Tony Gonsolin next week — manager Dave Roberts told reporters earlier Wednesday that Gonsolin, who pitched four innings Tuesday in Triple-A, would make one more rehab start, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com — the Dodgers will either need to keep Miller around to start Wednesday, April 23 at Wrigley Field or use a bullpen game. With off days coming Monday and next Thursday, going with the relievers is the better option at this point.
What a relief
The bullpen has been an unsung hero for the Dodgers this season, even factoring in last weekend’s blip against Chicago. Los Angeles relievers have been asked to do a lot this year, entering Friday with 11 more innings than any other major league bullpen.
Dodgers relievers have averaged over 4â…“ innings per game this year, and on Wednesday they had to cover the final six innings. Ben Casparius, who had his only bad game of the season on Saturday, got three days rest and got through two scoreless innings on 20 pitches against the Rockies. He needed 27 pitches to get a third frame, allowing a run, but he got through it to keep the Dodgers ahead through seven innings. Three innings and 47 pitches by Casparius is the longest relief outing on the team this season.
Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless eighth inning, after pitching on both Sunday and Tuesday. It’s just the second time a Dodgers pitcher appeared three times in a four-day stretch this season, joining Luis GarcÃa from March 28-31.
Anthony Banda, Casparius, Vesia, and Tanner Scott combined to allow one run in six innings, with nine strikeouts and no walks.
Through 20 games this season, Dodgers relievers have pitched almost as many innings (87â…”) as the starters (89â…“).
Notes
Pages’ three RBI Wednesday are one more than Pages’ total through his previous 17 games this season.
Muncy didn’t homer against the Rockies, and is at 68 plate appearances without a long ball this season. But he did have two hits, a walk, and scored twice on Wednesday, including a 108.4-mph single. Muncy reached base in seven of 12 plate appearances during the series.
Colorado has the worst record (3-15) and worst run differential (-51) in baseball. They are 1-11 on the road, including 10 straight losses away from home.
Wednesday particulars
Home runs: Shohei Ohtani (6), Freddie Freeman (3); Michael Toglia (1), Mickey Moniak (2)
WP — Ben Casparius (1-0): 3 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts
LP — Germán Márquez (0-3): ⅔ IP, 6 hits, 7 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout
Sv — Tanner Scott (6): 1 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts
Up next
With the homestand now complete, the Dodgers next head to Texas to play the Rangers beginning Friday night at Globe Life Field (5:05 p.m., SportsNet LA). Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his fourth consecutive Friday start.