Shohei Ohtani hit a 448-foot leadoff home run as part of a seven-run first inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers held off a late push by the Colorado Rockies for an 8-7 victory on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. With the win, Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of Colorado and improved its home record to one of the best in the National League.
Oddsmakers listed the Dodgers as heavy favorites going into the game, with moneyline odds around -300. The Rockies entered as clear underdogs, priced at approximately +240. The run total was set at 9.5, which was quickly surpassed in the early innings of a game dominated by offense.
Ohtani wasted little time making an impact, launching a towering home run to the upper deck in right field on the fourth pitch of the game from Rockies starter Germán Márquez. The 2023 National League MVP later added an RBI single as Los Angeles batted around in the opening frame. Freddie Freeman followed Ohtani with a home run of his own, and Austin Barnes delivered a two-run double. Andy Pages contributed a three-RBI performance, giving the Dodgers a commanding 7-1 lead after one inning.
Despite the early scoring outburst, the Dodgers could not cruise to victory. Right-hander Bobby Miller, making his first appearance of the season for Los Angeles, lasted only three innings. Miller, a highly regarded prospect, allowed six earned runs on eight hits, including a grand slam to Michael Toglia and a solo home run to Mickey Moniak in the third inning. Toglia’s grand slam was just the second of his career and temporarily brought Colorado back into the game.
Márquez, making his third start of the season for Colorado, struggled from the outset. He gave up seven runs and recorded only two outs in the first inning before being pulled. He was charged with the loss and dropped to 0-3 on the year.
Los Angeles leaned on its bullpen to preserve the lead. Ben Casparius pitched three innings in relief, allowing two hits and earning his first win of the season. The Dodgers’ bullpen combined to throw six innings of three-hit baseball. Tanner Scott, who entered in the ninth inning, recorded his sixth save of the year by striking out three batters. He threw 11 pitches, all for strikes, and worked around a leadoff single to close the game.
The Rockies, who have lost 33 of their last 43 games against the Dodgers, went winless on their six-game Southern California road trip and dropped to 3-15 on the season. Despite the loss, Colorado scored more runs Wednesday night than in the first five games of the trip combined.
Los Angeles will travel to Texas for a high-profile interleague matchup with the defending World Series champion Rangers beginning Friday. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start the series opener and enters with a 2-1 record and a 1.23 ERA. The Rockies will return home and face the Washington Nationals, with Chase Dollander set to take the mound with a 1-1 record and a 5.06 ERA.