The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten hot over the past week, winning six of their last seven to move within 3.5 games of first place in the National League West.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 shutout of the Colorado Rockies to earn the series victory at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night. Kenta Maeda got the start on the mound and turned in his second straight brilliant outing.
He was coming off eight scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins, allowing just two hits and notching eight strikeouts. The performance was a tall order to follow up, but Maeda was up to the task.
He limited the Rockies to just two hits over 6.2 scoreless innings and finished with 12 strikeouts, one shy of tying a career-high.
Maeda almost logged a special highlight when he struck out the first two batters faced on six pitches. He then got ahead in the count, 0-2, to Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta.
Within one pitch of completing an immaculate inning, Maeda tossed a slider on the outer half of the plate that just missed outside corner. He wound up walking Iannetta to mark the end of his night, although it was still a fantastic outing nonetheless.
The Dodgers offense only came up with six hits and three runs, but that was more than enough for Maeda and the bullpen.
Chris Taylor was back in his familiar leadoff spot and got on base three times in four plate appearances, walking twice and reaching on a hit by a pitch.
Justin Turner had a solid night at the plate, going 2-for-4 to put his season batting average back above .300. Yasiel Puig had two hits, including a leadoff single in the third inning to give the Dodgers their first baserunner.
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