Purr-fect night: Bauer wins Dodgers debut, cat gets comfy on Coors field
DENVER — Trevor Bauer made his Dodgers debut on the same night a gray cat got comfy in the Coors Field outfield.
It was all just purr-fect for the defending World Series champions.
Bauer took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before allowing a pair of two-run homers, and
Los Angeles held on after building a big lead to beat the Colorado
Rockies 11-6 on Friday.
The game had a little bit of everything, from seven of the Dodgers’ 16 hits going for extra bases — no homers, though — to the cat making a surprise entrance onto the field in the eighth. The furry feline hung out in center with Cody Bellinger for a moment before being picked up and ushered out by stadium personnel.
“They’ve been different,” Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager said of two wild games at Coors Field to start the season. “That’s this ballpark.”
Bauer (1-0) was purring along through six innings as the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner baffled the Rockies with a dancing slider and nasty cutter.
Then, the seventh rolled around.
Trevor Story broke up Bauer’s no-hitter with a single and Charlie Blackmon ended the shutout with a two-run homer. Ryan McMahon later followed with another two-run homer. David Price eventually replaced Bauer and proceeded to give up back-to-back homers to Dom Nunez and Sam Hilliard, suddenly turning a 10-0 rout into a 10-6 game.
“We showed a lot of life there in the seventh,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “Overall, we can take a little something from that big inning.”
Wearing his pants pulled up high to reveal those Dodger blue socks, Bauer went 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs while striking out 10.
And no, he wasn’t thinking of a no-hitter.
“As far as a no-hitter, I don’t really care,” Bauer said. “If it happens, it happens. It’s not something in the pitcher’s control, unless you strike out 27 guys. There’s going to be balls put in play and that’s luck. I very easily could’ve given up hits before the seventh.”
He’s not really sure why things unraveled in the seventh. He ran the bases in the top of the frame, but didn’t feel that was a factor.
“Maybe I fell into some patterns?” Bauer offered. “I haven’t had time to go back and break down the video since we’re not really allowed to watch video in game anymore — new Astros rules or something like that. I’ll have to go back and look at it.”
Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (0-1) uncharacteristically scuffled at home, lasting 3 1/3 innings and allowing seven runs. He entered the game with six wins over his last eight home starts.