Gavin Lux sparks Dodgers’ two-out rally in Opening Day win
by Rowan Kavner
The top eight hitters in the vaunted Dodger lineup include seven All-Stars and one of the best catchers in the game. It was the ninth who delivered an Opening Day win Friday afternoon in Colorado.
Showcasing the Dodgers’ depth, second baseman Gavin Lux reached three times from the last spot in the order and supplied a game-changing at-bat with a two-strike, two-out, game-tying two-run single in the fourth inning. The hit began a five-run rally that provided all the offense necessary for Walker Buehler in a 5–3 win.
“It’s a little microcosm of what we can do,” said manager Dave Roberts.
Unlike most meetings at Coors Field, Friday offered few surprises. On last year’s Opening Day in Colorado, the Dodgers plated their first run of the season on a Cody Bellinger out-of-the-park single. Later that series, Zach McKinstry recorded the first Dodger homer on an inside-the-parker.
Outside of Mookie Betts reaching base on a dropped third strike to start the season, there were few oddities in a balanced Opening Day victory.
The Dodgers’ eight hits came from seven different players. Chris Taylor was the lone Dodger to record two hits. Taylor and Will Smith were both in scoring position with one out in the fourth when Bellinger popped out. Rockies starter Kyle Freeland, who recorded six strikeouts through the first three innings, was one out away from escaping another threat.
With all the talent in front of him, Lux said he didn’t need to do a lot. He drilled a single 102.5 mph up the middle to tie the game. It was the Dodgers’ second-hardest hit ball of the day, trailing only Smith’s single (105.9 mph) earlier in the inning.
“We kind of fed off that,” said Trea Turner.
Three pitches later, Lux scored from first on a go-ahead double by Betts. Lux sped around second, stumbled around third and flopped his way into home plate.
Freddie Freeman followed with a walk, which chased Freeland. Turner then added to the lead with an RBI single that stretched the reigning National League batting champion’s hitting streak to 20 games dating back to Sept. 12 of last season.
It was a positive start for a Dodger team that has ranked in the top three in the Majors in OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position each of the past three years.
Despite all the damage coming in one inning, Roberts liked what he saw up and down one of the most formidable lineups in baseball. The Dodgers drew four walks in addition to their eight hits.
“For me, the two guys that really stood out were Freddie and Gavin,” Roberts said. “Left-on-left from Gavin, that two-out base hit to tie the game was huge. Took another walk. I just thought he had good at-bats all day.”
The breakout inning gave Buehler a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. He allowed two runs on an RBI groundout and an RBI single in the second inning, but he settled in after throwing 39 pitches the first two innings. Buehler only needed 39 more pitches over his next three innings while striking out five batters in five innings of work.
The bullpen took it from there. Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen and Daniel Hudson combined to allow one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over the next three innings. They set the stage for closer Craig Kimbrel, who allowed a run in the ninth inning but struck out two and secured his first save as a Dodger.
It was the Dodgers’ 14th win in their last 20 matchups against the Rockies dating back to last season.
“I think to get off to a good start for our team is the biggest thing,” Buehler said.
