From left to right, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Justin Turner, Trayce Thompson and Chris Taylor celebrate Thompson’s three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson gestures toward the stands after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado Rockies’ Jose Iglesias, left, is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts reacts after hitting an RBI-single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Trayce Thompson of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his three-run home run against starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts hits an RBI-single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado Rockies third baseman Garrett Hampson throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado Rockies’ Jose Iglesias hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Chris Taylor cannot catch a home run by Colorado Rockies’ Jose Iglesias during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson, center, rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado Rockies’ Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias (11) celebrates his solo home run with third base coach Stu Cole (39) during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Trayce Thompson tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Mookie Betts turns a double play over Colorado Rockies’ Connor Joe during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. Rockies’ Yonathan Daza was out at first. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Trayce Thompson of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his three run home run against starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies with Justin Turner and Chris Taylor in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Trayce Thompson of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his three-run home run against starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Trayce Thompson of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a three-run home run against starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies gets a new ball after giving up a three-run home run to Trayce Thompson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Independence Day cleats and socks of catcher Elias Diaz of the Colorado Rockies and Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers are shown during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 04: Members of the U.S. military stretch a large U.S. flag across the field during the national anthem in celebration of Independence Day prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
A U.S. Air Force large military transport plane makes a flyover in celebration of Independence Day during the national anthem prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – Like your Wi-Fi router, whatever spell the Colorado Rockies had cast over the Dodgers has limited range.
The Dodgers lost four of their first six games against the Rockies this season, all at Coors Field, before hosting them at Dodger Stadium Monday night. Trayce Thompson broke the spell with a three-run home run in a four-run fifth inning and the Dodgers went on to a 5-3 victory.
Whatever difficulties the Dodgers have had in Denver, they have beaten the Rockies 26 of the past 35 times at Dodger Stadium.
They were slow to come online Monday. Rockies starter Kyle Freeland retired the first 13 Dodgers batters in order. Only one ball left the infield in that time – a fly out to left field by Will Smith in the second inning.
Freeland toggled through his five-pitch mix, getting at least one swing-and-miss with four of the five, the Dodgers opting to take 10 of the first 12 changeups he threw. It had the look of the three-hit shutout spun by Chad Kuhl against the Dodgers at Coors Field just a week ago.
But Justin Turner ended the perfect game with one out in the fifth, shooting a single to right field (the first of three hits in the game for him). Chris Taylor drew a walk bringing up Thompson.
In his first at-bat against Freeland, Thompson had crushed a long fly ball down the left field line that curved foul into the upper deck. He eventually popped out to end that at-bat.
The second time, Thompson’s timing was even better. He was all over a full-count slider, driving it into the left field seats as well – this time on the fair side of the foul pole.
In 13 games since rejoining the Dodgers in a trade with the Detroit Tigers, Thompson has gone 10 for 35 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.
Cody Bellinger followed with a ground-rule double down the right-field line and scored two batters later on a two-out RBI single by Mookie Betts (3 for 7 since his return from the Injured List).
That was enough offensive support for Julio Urias. The Dodgers left-hander went six strong innings, making just one mistake. Jose Iglesias golfed a down-and-in curveball just over the left-field wall for a solo home run.
Over his past six starts, Urias has a 2.08 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .177 average – burnishing his All-Star worthy credentials.
The Dodgers scored again in the seventh when Bellinger led off with a walk and scored from first on Trea Turner’s two-out double. But the Rockies scored twice in the ninth (one on a C.J. Cron homer) before the Dodgers could close it out without Craig Kimbrel, still recovering from the line drive to his back in Sunday’s loss.
Taylor left the game after six innings with left ankle swelling. He missed Sunday’s game after fouling a ball off his foot on Saturday.
