The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger scores the winning run on an infield single by Mookie Betts as Colorado Rockies catcher Brian Serven waits for the ball during the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Urena throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Urena, left, fields a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Justin Turner as Freddie Freeman, right, runs to second base during the first inning on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. Turner was thrown out at first on the play. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Urena throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias, right, makes a catch on a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Justin Turner as left fielder Kris Bryant watches during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Urena throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Urena throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger steals second base as the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers waits on the throw during the fifth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger steals second base before the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers can apply a tag during the fifth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger steals second base in front of the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers during the fifth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White stretches his arm before throwing to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White checks the runner at first base before throwing to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers hits a single off of Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White, left, during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White reaches for a ball that was overthrown by center fielder Cody Bellinger, resulting in a run for the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White pauses after going after a ball that was overthrown by center fielder Cody Bellinger, resulting in a run for the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Colorado Rockies’ Kris Bryant scores a run during the sixth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Mitch White reacts as Manager Dave Roberts walks to the mound to take him out of the game during the sixth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias tags out the Dodgers’ Justin Turner at second base to complete a double play during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias tags out the Dodgers’ Justin Turner at second base to complete a double play during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias tags out the Dodgers’ Justin Turner at second base to complete a double play during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Austin Barnes, right, is hit in the back by a pitch as Colorado Rockies catcher Brian Serven, left, reaches for it during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Austin Barnes, left, is hit in the back by a pitch as Colorado Rockies catcher Brian Serven reaches for it during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, scores the tying run on a wild pitch as Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird takes a late throw from catcher Brian Serven during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger scores the tying run on a wild pitch as Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird makes a late tag during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger scores the tying run on a wild pitch as Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird makes a late tag during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, right, is called safe by home plate umpire Chris Segal after scoring the tying run on a wild pitch by Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird during the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Bellinger scored the winning run two innings later. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger celebrates in the dugout after scoring the tying run during the seventh inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Yency Almonte throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Alex Colome throws to the plate during the eighth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a walk-off infield single off of Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Daniel Bard, left, during the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits a walk-off single against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 06, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger scores the winning run on an infield single by Mookie Betts as teammate Trea Turner watches during the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, center, celebrates after scoring the winning run on an infield single by Mookie Betts, not pictured, as Colorado Rockies second baseman Brendan Rodgers, left, and catcher Brian Serven walk away during the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, smiles after his infield single drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, celebrates with Cody Bellinger, center, as Will Smith stands by after Bellinger scored the winning run on Betts’ infield single during the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, right, celebrates with Cody Bellinger, center, as Will Smith stands by after Bellinger scored the winning run on Betts’ infield single during the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, center, celebrates with teammates after his infield single drove in Cody Bellinger, far left, with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, center, celebrates with teammates after his infield single drove in Cody Bellinger, far left, with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, center, celebrates with teammates after his infield single drove in Cody Bellinger, far left, with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES ― Coors Field is a thousand miles from Dodger Stadium over land and a million miles away in spirit. Somewhere above the Continental Divide, the hitter’s haven that the Colorado Rockies call home disappears like a high fly ball into a thick marine layer. At night at least, Dodger Stadium will always be a pitcher’s park.
The Dodgers’ offense Wednesday night consisted of a run that scored on a wild pitch and a walk-off infield single. Starting pitcher Mitch White and three relievers combined to allow one hit and one run. Only the Dodger Stadium disc jockey played the hits in a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies before an announced crowd of 45,098.
By sweeping the three-game series from Colorado (35-47), the fifth-place team in the National League West, the Dodgers (52-29) extended their division lead to a season-high six games on second-place San Diego.
Halfway through the regular season, the Dodgers are on pace for 104 wins.
“I think we’ve played alright,” said Mookie Betts, who won the game on a ball that hit the ground three feet in front of home plate and left his bat at 74 mph. “We haven’t really got hot like we’re capable of, but we’re capable of being somewhat kind of consistent. That’s the name of the game. In the end, hopefully we can get on a run and really make a bigger gap. Until then, we’ve just got to take it one game at a time.”
Since he became a Dodger in 2020, Betts had never won a game in the team’s final plate appearance.
The Dodgers loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning against Daniel Bard (3-3) on singles by Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux, and a walk by pinch hitter Will Smith.
That brought up Betts. The Rockies went to a five-man infield, bringing in center fielder Garrett Hampson and leaving only Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon to cover the outfield, and Betts chopped the second pitch he saw over the mound and into the teeth of the drawn-in infield. Sure-handed shortstop Jose Iglesias could not get off a throw, and Bellinger scampered home with the winning run.
“I’m always thinking put the ball in play and see what happens,” Betts said. “It is what it is. (Fly balls were) dying for everybody. You can’t take stock and focus on that. It’s always ‘put the ball in play and see what happens.’”
Bellinger had three of the Dodgers’ nine hits. Justin Turner and Lux each had two. Pitcher Craig Kimbrel (2-4) was credited with the victory in his return from a back injury.
Trailing 1-0, the Dodgers tied the score with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Again, the bases were loaded for Betts when a pitch glanced off the glove of Rockies catcher Brian Serven. Bellinger raced home and slid under the tag of relief pitcher Jake Bird.
It was the only run charged to Jose Ureña, who was recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day, in his 6⅔ innings.
An extra day of rest seemed to help White. He was slated to start Tuesday but was moved back a day with the Dodgers amid a stretch of 20 games in 20 days.
The velocity on each of White’s pitches – fastball, slider, sinker and curveball – ticked up above their season averages. He threw first-pitch strikes to 14 of the 22 batters he faced, a nominal improvement for a pitcher who has struggled to get ahead in the count.
The result? White did not allow a hit for 5⅓ innings.
“I like throwing a lot,” said White, who set season highs in innings and pitches (102). “It’s definitely been a while, but it feels good to get up there.”
The game remained scoreless into the sixth inning. With one out, Rockies left fielder Kris Bryant laid off a pair of two-strike sliders, drawing a walk. The next batter, Brendan Rogers, also worked a full count. White placed a sinker low and inside, but Rogers roped it into center field for a single. The no-hit bid was over.
A few seconds later, the shutout was over too.
Bryant sprinted from first base to third on Rogers’ hit. Bellinger, the center fielder, overthrew Turner, the third baseman. White, who was backing up the play, couldn’t secure the errant throw either. Bryant had already reached third by the time the ball reached a camera well adjoining the Dodgers’ dugout, allowing him to cross home plate unencumbered.
Trayce Thompson’s 3-run home run leads Dodgers past Rockies
“Funky little play,” White said. “It happens.”
White got one more out before turning the game over to the bullpen. He struck out six batters, including all three he faced in the fifth inning, and walked four. Since Bryant’s run was unearned, White’s ERA fell to 3.38.
David Price (1⅓ innings), Yency Almonte (one) and Kimbrel (one) did not allow a run in relief.
That the Dodgers left 11 runners on base and went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position was not an issue for a night. They succeeded in their mission to put the ball in play, striking out only four times in 37 plate appearances. Their pitchers took care of the rest.
“We don’t have to be hot to win,” Betts said, “but it would be nice.”
