After scoring 16 runs in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers offense was quiet for most of the night on Tuesday. As has been the case so many times this season though, they came alive late and the result was a 5-2 come-from-behind victory to lower their magic number to clinch the National League West to just five.
Rockies starter Chi Chi Gonzalez gave up seven runs while only recording two outs in his last start, so naturally, he completed six scoreless innings against the Dodgers. However, his night unraveled after being sent back out for the seventh.
Gonzalez issued a walk to Cody Bellinger and gave up a one-out single to Matt Beaty before being replaced. Unfortunately for him, his bullpen was not able to hang on to get him a victory.
Russell Martin stepped to the plate with two on and two outs and the Dodgers trailing. He proceeded to launch a three-run home run to left field to give L.A. a lead they never relinquished. Martin knew he got his sixth home run of the season right when he hit it.
It was the veterans that came through for the Dodgers on Tuesday as David Freese followed Martin’s home run with one of his own to right field to give him 11 on the year. Freese has stepped to the plate just four times since returning from the injured list and has homered twice.
The final longball of the night was off the bat of Justin Turner in the bottom of the eighth to give the Dodgers an insurance run. Turner’s no-doubt shot was his 27th of the season, which ties his career-high. He also has 17 since the All-Star break, good for the third-most in all of baseball.
After five home runs were hit between the two teams on Tuesday, the home run total at Dodger Stadium this season sits at 220. That is the most in a single season in the stadium’s history.
