Back-to-back home runs lift Dodgers over Rockies
The Dodgers' Chris Taylor watches the flight of his go-ahead two-run home run during the sixth inning of Tuesday's game against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
By J.P. Hoornstra | jhoornstra@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: May 22, 2018 at 10:16 p.m. | UPDATED: August 1, 2018 at 10:45 a.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig flips his bat as he watches his solo home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Brock Stewart #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a diving catch off Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run on a bases loaded walk in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles in a run in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers advances to third base on a double by Cody Bellinger #35 in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers beats the throw to Daniel Castro #6 of the Colorado Rockies on a RBI double in the first inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond, left, runs to first on a solo home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart, right, during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond leaves the batter's box on a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal watches during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Rockies' Ian Desmond, right, rounds third after hitting a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Brock Stewart drops his glove during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on as Ian Desmond #20 is greeted by David Dahl #26 of the Colorado Rockies after a solo home run in the second inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies is greeted at the dugout by manager Bud Black #10 after a solo home run in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Brock Stewart #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers sits in the dugout in the first inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig licks his bat after taking a strike during the fourth inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor, center, runs to first on a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Bryan Shaw, front, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor, left, is congratulated by manager Dave Roberts, center, and coach Bob Geren after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout by bench coach Bob Geren #8 and manager Dave Roberts #30 after hitting a two-run home in the sixth inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted by Yasiel Puig #66 as he heads to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run scoring Cody Bellinger #35 in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig hits a solo home run as Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig watches his solo home run during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is greeted in the dugout by Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after a solo home run in the sixth inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen throws during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen gestures after the Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-3 in a baseball game Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Injured Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager watches Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies from the dugout railing at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Kenley Jansen #74 shakes hands with Yasmani Grandal #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after earning a save in the ninth inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 22: Yasiel Puig #66 and Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers head in from the outfield after the final out of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — Chris Taylor said it started last season after he came around to score on a bloop hit, the kind that stings a batter's hands. He got back to the dugout and there was teammate Justin Turner, shaking both hands above his head – as if to loosen them up after getting jammed on the fists. Even as celebratory gestures go this one was goofy, but it endured through the end of the season.
Colorado Rockies pitcher Bryan Shaw didn't jam Taylor on Tuesday. Shaw hung a slider over the plate and Taylor turned on it, launching the ball over the fence in left-center field. Two pitches later, Shaw hung a slider again, this time to Yasiel Puig. The back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning erased a one-run deficit and gave the Dodgers a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
When Taylor got back to the dugout, there was Turner, shaking both hands above his head.
"It felt good just to contribute and help the team win a game," Taylor said. "The last couple games I've been struggling a little bit, or not performing the way I want to. To be able to come through in a big situation, to come through for my guys, it felt good."
The home runs awakened the announced crowd of 43,719 at Dodger Stadium, which hadn't seen a win for the home team since May 9. Before that, the Dodgers hadn't won at home since April 23. One home victory in a 29-day span won't keep the denizens content, let alone win you a division.
Now, the Dodgers (21-27) have cut their deficit in the National League West to 4½ games, the closest they've been to first place in a month. They've won four of their last five games overall following a six-game losing streak.
The change in fortune has coincided with the resuscitation of some of their key players from a year ago. Taylor's on-base percentage, .299 when the month began, is up to .322. Puig has five home runs in his last seven starts. He also walked twice Tuesday and has raised his on-base percentage from .250 to .294 in a span of 10 days.
"Outside of that at-bat in D.C. where he chased inside in the (Brandon) Kintzler at-bat, I think he's been very good staying to his strike zone," Manager Dave Roberts said of Puig. "He's taken his walks when he's needed to. The on-base (percentage) is starting to creep up there. He's getting his 'A' swing off more than he had earlier."
The Dodgers managed only six hits against Rockies starter Chad Bettis and three relievers, but they made them count.
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Kemp, who had two hits, drove in Turner in the first inning with the game's first run. Cody Bellinger followed with a double and Bettis walked Taylor to load the bases. Puig was up next, and he worked a walk to force in Kemp.
Right-hander Brock Stewart allowed two runs over four innings in his first major league start of 2018. It was a serviceable if not dominant performance for Stewart, who was effectively auditioning to remain in the starting rotation until ace Clayton Kershaw returns.
Roberts said after the game that Stewart's next start is not guaranteed, "but I thought he pitched well enough to get another opportunity."
"Until I am a mainstay in the bullpen or the rotation," Stewart said, "every outing is an audition for sure."
Officially recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day, Stewart allowed five hits, walked one batter and struck out another in his four innings. The bullpen took over in the fifth inning with the score tied 2-2, with Stewart on the verge of facing dangerous leadoff hitter Charlie Blackmon a third time.
After newcomer Erik Goeddel pitched a scoreless fifth inning, J.T. Chargois experienced some turbulence in the sixth. The right-hander walked the first batter he faced – Trevor Story, who stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball charged to catcher Yasmani Grandal.
The Dodgers drew the infield in with Ian Desmond batting. Desmond punched a ground ball through the right side of the infield, and Story trotted home to give Colorado a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Rockies replaced Bettis with Shaw (1-3), a veteran right-hander.
Kemp led off with a single and was forced out at second base on a ground ball by Bellinger; Bellinger crucially beat out the relay throw from Story, the Rockies' shortstop.
Taylor had not homered since May 4 until he launched Shaw's belt-high slider over the fence. He sprinted out of the box, unsure of the ball's destination.
Slider… GONE! #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/U9BnuSpMGO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 23, 2018
Two pitches later, Puig sent another Shaw slider nearly halfway up the bleacher seats in left. He held his bat in the air, parallel to the ground, taking a few steps to enjoy his latest home run.
PUIGGG 😛 #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/E6xvEWgNV6
Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields and Kenley Jansen each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the win. Jansen recorded his ninth save.
For a day, it was safe to break out the Chris Taylor handshake again. The Dodgers' hands were loose, their spirits looser.
"Ever since that last game in Miami we've been playing good baseball," Taylor said. "Even the couple games before that, you could tell we were really close. We were in every game. We just couldn't get over the hump. We couldn't come out on top. The series sweep in D.C., that was huge for our confidence.
"We know we're a good team. We're going to turn things around eventually. We can just go out there and play free and easy, play the way we're capable of playing."
Chris Taylor left his mark on offense and defense in tonight's #Dodgers win. He spoke with @alannarizzo after the game. pic.twitter.com/O7ai3m2XlP
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) May 23, 2018
Brock Stewart
Yasiel Puig
J.P. Hoornstra | reporter
J.P. Hoornstra covers Major League Baseball and is the author of 'The 50 Greatest Dodger Games Of All Time.' He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.
jhoornstra@scng.com
Follow J.P. Hoornstra	@jphoornstra
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