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Dodgers get back to winning ways by beating Rockies again – San Bernardino Sun

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Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night, April 15, 2025, at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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LOS ANGELES — Like crystals, green tea or any number of products on Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Goop’ website, the Colorado Rockies are going to have healing properties this season.

The Dodgers won just three of nine games before the Rockies came to Dodger Stadium this week. But there’s nothing like a series against the woeful Rockies to put things right and the Dodgers beat them for the second consecutive night Tuesday, 6-2. These are the Dodgers’ first back-to-back wins since their 8-0 start to the season.

The Rockies have started the season a major league-worst 3-14 and have lost their five consecutive games in San Diego and Los Angeles by a combined score of 27-5.

“Just trying to take care of business,” utility man Tommy Edman said after his four-hit game Tuesday. “Obviously baseball is crazy. Anybody can beat anybody so you’ve to to play hard and prepare regardless of the opponent. They’ve got a lot of talented players as well. You can’t take anybody lightly. We’ve done a good job of coming out hot the last two games.

“More just kind of getting back to the baseball we know we should be playing.”

The biggest flaw that seemed to drag the Dodgers down during their three consecutive series losses was a lack of production from the bottom of the lineup. Even in Monday’s victory over the Rockies, the top four hitters in the lineup did all the damage, going 9 for 17 with two home runs and all five of their runs scored while the bottom five hitters were 1 for 15.

The top of the lineup was still productive Tuesday. Freddie Freeman was on base four times (two walks and two singles), Shohei Ohtani stole two bases and scored twice and Will Smith had the big hit of the night, a three-run home run.

But the bottom of the lineup did show some signs of life.

Led by Edman’s four hits (two doubles and two singles), the bottom five hitters – Michael Conforto, Edman, Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Andy Pages – were on base 12 times with six hits, four walks and two hit batters. Edman drove in a run with one of his doubles and Taylor had an RBI single.

“Obviously we know what we’re capable of,” Edman said. “The last two days is much closer to what our offense should look like.”

Smith’s home run highlighted a four-run third inning that featured four walks. The Dodgers have walked 12 times in the two games against the Rockies after drawing just six walks while losing two of three games to the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.

“That’s exactly the model for what this offense can do – build innings, create stress and then get a big hit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I don’t know how many walks we took tonight, but we controlled the strike zone really well, got to the starter again and found a way to win a ballgame.”

For the second year in a row, Smith has gotten off to a hot start. Through Tuesday’s win, he is batting .367 with 12 RBIs and a 1.026 OPS. Last season, he slumped badly in the second half while playing through a bone bruise in his right ankle.

“He’s just playing great baseball,” Roberts said.

“I think that’s the main thing is, he’s healthy. He’s got clarity. He’s strong. He feels good. It’s just making sure that he keeps for wanting more. I say that as far as playing time. When you want more, that means you’re really feeling good about yourself and your body’s feeling good.”

Landon Knack’s poor start in Washington last week left him wanting more. He did a better job Tuesday but will head back to Triple-A Oklahoma City now, clearing a roster spot for Bobby Miller to come up and make a spot start on Wednesday.

Knack allowed a two-run double to Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings with two outs in the fourth inning but pitched into the fifth inning without allowing any more damage.

“I was just really determined to come out and just kind of attack a little more,” Knack said. “Obviously, I still had a couple walks in there, but overall, just a lot better direction with everything, much better feel coming out of the hand, and just kind of just getting after it a little bit more. Definitely a lot better feeling.”

Rookie left-hander Jack Dreyer followed and walked the first batter he faced. But he retired the next five in order, four on strikeouts. Dreyer has been an early-season revelation in the Dodgers’ bullpen. He has allowed just one run in 12 innings while holding opposing batters to a .079 average (3 for 38) with 16 strikeouts.

“He just seems unflappable,” Roberts said. “There’s no situation that I’ve seen so far that’s too big for him. He’s just got good stuff and he commands the baseball, the fastball, the breaking ball. He’s been really helpful.”

Kirby Yates ran into some trouble in the seventh when he walked Stallings to start the inning and gave up a two-out double to Nick Martini. But he struck out the side and stranded both runners. Alex Vesia and Luis Garcia closed it out with a scoreless inning each.

The Rockies had just one hit after Stallings’ double in the fourth inning.



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