DENVER — Shohei Ohtani got the game going with his 21st home run of the season, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Thursday.
Ohtani’s home run was his fourth in five games. Smith and Freeman hit 11 homers apiece to make it 5-0 against Ty Blach (3-5).
Thus, the Dodgers took three of four games against the Rockies.
Ohtani is 8 for 18 with two home runs, three doubles and six RBIs in four games as a leadoff hitter. He moved up one spot in the order after Mookie Betts broke his left hand while being hit by a pitch on Sunday.
Jake Cave hit a two-run single in the sixth inning as Colorado pulled within 5-2. Ryan McMahon hit a 462-foot home run off Alex Vesia to open the eighth inning.
Evan Phillips finished the ninth inning with three men to reach 12 saves in the same number of opportunities. The victory went to Gavin Stone (8-2), who allowed two runs and four hits in five and a third innings.
For the Dodgers, Dominican Teoscar Hernández was 3-for-5 with one run scored. The Cubans Andy Pagés 5-1 with one run scored and one RBI, Miguel Vargas 3-1 with an RBI. Venezuelan Miguel Rojas 4-0. Puerto Rican Kiké Hernández 4-1.
For the Rockies, the Dominicans Elehuris Montero 4-1, Adael Amador 3-1. Mexican Alan Trejo 2-0. Venezuelan Ezequiel Tovar 1-0.
