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Recap: Kenta Maeda Sets Career High With 8 Strikeouts, Dodgers Beat Rockies

Matthew Moreno
5 Min Read
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

PAGES: 1 | 2

The Los Angeles Dodgers squandered multiple opportunities on Friday night, and Colorado Rockies rallied late to hand the Dodgers a fifth consecutive loss at Coors Field. Los Angeles looked to rebound in the middle game of the series with Kenta Maeda on the mound.

The Dodgers again went to work early, with Corey Seager lining the first pitch he saw from Tyler Chatwood for a one-out single into left field. Yasiel Puig followed with a double to left-center, and an Adrian Gonzalez RBI groundout gave Maeda a 1-0 lead before he stepped foot on the mound.

Maeda opened the bottom of the first with consecutive strikeouts of Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez. The Japanese native then completed a 1-2-3 inning by getting Nolan Arenado to pop-up. Joc Pederson worked a full count before sneaking a one-out single by a diving DJ LeMahieu.

A.J. Ellis also forced Chatwood to a full count, ending his at-bat with a two-run home run that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. Maeda picked up a third strikeout of the game and worked around a two-out walk to complete a second scoreless inning.

Chatwood walked Seager to start the third, then struck out Puig and Adrian Gonzalez. Howie Kendrick kept the inning alive with a base hit to left field and Kiké Hernandez drew a walk to load the bases. Pederson made solid contact, only to line out to DJ LeMahieu.

Maeda continued to sail through the game, retiring the Rockies in order in the bottom of the third, collecting his fourth strikeout in the process. Chatwood quickly retired Ellis and Maeda in the fourth, but then gave up a two-out single to Chase Utley. Nothing came of it as Seager flied out to the warning track in center field.

CONTINUE READING: Kenta Maeda flirts with no-hit bid

Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com