Jun. 17, 2024 23:52 PM EST

Ohtani And Paxton Lead The Dodgers To A 9-5 Win Over The Rockies

By CRAIG MEYER
Associated Press
Los Angeles Dodgers' Jason Heyward follows the flight of his single to drive in two runs off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) David Zalubowski, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Dodgers' Jason Heyward follows the flight of his single to drive in two runs off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani heads up the first base line after connecting for a double off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Jason Heyward, left, scores on a double hit by Miguel Rojas as Colorado Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings, right, turns to apply a late tag in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado Rockies' Michael Toglia reacts after striking out against Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher James Paxton in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani scores on a single hit by Jason Heyward off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, June 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
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DENVER (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had three hits, James Paxton pitched seven smooth innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-5 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series between the top and bottom teams in the NL West.

Miguel Rojas and Jason Heyward also had three hits apiece for the first-place Dodgers, who finished with 14. Freddie Freeman walked five times, one shy of a major league record.

Ohtani doubled twice, drove in a run and had his third multi-hit performance in his past four games, a stretch in which he has seven hits in 15 at-bats. The two-time AL MVP entered second in the majors in extra-base hits, tied for fifth in hits and sixth in batting average.

Paxton (7-1) permitted just one run and two hits in his longest outing of the season. He had a season-high eight strikeouts and walked only one.

Los Angeles left 13 runners on base, equaling a season high.

The loss was the Rockies’ sixth in their past eight games and 12th in 16 games in June. During that stretch, they’ve been outscored by a 109-66 margin.

Jacob Stallings, Greg Jones and Hunter Goodman homered for Colorado, which got four runs in the ninth off reliever J.P. Feyereisen. Jones’ home run, which came as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, was his first career hit.

Cal Quantrill (6-5) gave up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings. The 29-year-old right-hander entered 6-1 with a 1.91 ERA over his previous eight starts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: SS Mookie Betts (fractured left hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list, with manager Dave Roberts saying the 2018 AL MVP will miss roughly six to eight weeks. … Los Angeles recalled OF Miguel Vargas from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Rockies: Reinstated RHP Jake Bird (right elbow inflammation) and RHP Justin Lawrence (right shoulder strain) from the 15-day IL. … Placed LHP Josh Rogers (rotator cuff strain) on the 15-day IL, retroactive to June 14. … Optioned RHP Angel Chivilli to Double-A Hartford.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler (1-4, 4.64 ERA) pitches Tuesday against LHP Austin Gomber (1-4, 4.36).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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