Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner throws out the Colorado Rockies’ Randal Grichuk during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black looks from the dugout during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers hits a solo home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rodgers hits a solo home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rogers (not pictured) during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rogers, right, during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, right, along with trainer Nathan Lucero watch from the dugout during the eighth inning of a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rogers during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rogers, right, high-fives teammate C.J. Cron after hitting a solo home run off of Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias (not pictured) during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Brendan Rogers (not pictured) during the first inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts connects during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger fields a double hit by the Colorado Rockies’ Michael Tongua (not pictured) and throws it back to the infield as right fielder Mookie Betts ducks during the second inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies center fielder Garrett Hampson catches a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Justin Turner (not pictured) during the second inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodger Stadium security officials stop the game as umpires and officials look toward the sky after a drone was seen above the stadium during the third inning of a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Umpires look toward the sky after a drone was seen above the field during the third inning of a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The game was halted for several minutes due to the intrusion. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Sean Bouchard (not pictured) during the second inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias looks on after giving up a solo home run to the Colorado Rockies’ Sean Bouchard (not pictured) during the second inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger hits an RBI single during the third inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies right fielder Sean Bouchard can’t reach a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Joey Gallo (not pictured) as it clears the fence for a solo home run during the fifth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies right fielder Sean Bouchard looks away as fans reach for a ball that was hit by the Dodgers’ Joey Gallo (not pictured) for a solo home run during the fifth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo begins to run the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo begins to run the bases after hitting a solo home run off of Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner, left, during the fifth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo, right, is congratulated by third base coach Dino Ebel as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner reacts after the Dodgers’ Joey Gallo hit a solo home run during the fifth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo gestures after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo heads back to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Dodgers’ Joey Gallo is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Colorado Rockies’ Randal Grichuk rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run off of Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Colorado Rockies’ Randal Grichuk, right, celebrates with teammate Elehuris Montero after hitting a two-run home run off of Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney (not pictured) during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Colorado Rockies’ Randal Grichuk celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off of Dodgers relief pitcher Andrew Heaney (not pictured) during the seventh inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the dugout as the Colorado Rockies score during the ninth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, and bench coach Bob Geren watch from the dugout as the Colorado Rockies score during the ninth inning on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Kourtney Turner, the wife of Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, sings the National Anthem before a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho waits to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
LAUSD superintendent Alberto Carvalho throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES ― The Dodgers will finish their regular season on Wednesday afternoon with a franchise record for wins and an unwelcome reminder about the fickle nature of a best-of-five playoff series: any team can win or lose three games in a row.
The last three nights have seen the Dodgers (110-51) lose to the Colorado Rockies (68-93), the last-place team in the National League West. Randal Grichuk’s two-run home run in the seventh inning against Andrew Heaney was the turning point in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss before an announced crowd of 51,833 at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers will have five days off following the conclusion of Wednesday’s game. They will then host the winner of a best-of-three wild card series between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
The Dodgers’ last three-game losing streak before this week came as August turned to September – coincidentally, with two losses against the Mets and one against the Padres.
Heaney (4-4) inherited a 2-2 game from Julio Urías in the sixth inning but could not hold the Rockies at bay.
In the seventh inning, the left-hander got ahead of light-hitting infielder Elehuris Montero 0-and-2 before allowing a single on a changeup in the strike zone. Later that inning, Heaney got ahead of Grichuk 0-and-2 before allowing a two-run blast to left field on a slider down the middle of the plate.
It was the 14th home run Heaney has allowed this season in 16 appearances.
“Just got to put guys away and make a couple better pitches,” he said.
With Tony Gonsolin returning from the injured list in time to join the Dodgers’ postseason rotation, Heaney expects to shift to the bullpen for at least the NLDS. Manager Dave Roberts hasn’t determined exactly what role Heaney will occupy, but it could be a piggyback situation like Tuesday’s.
“Having him out of the ’pen for the third time today just kind of lets us feel good about him doing that,” Roberts said. “It gives us the option to … start (Heaney) in one particular game or have him out of the ’pen.”
Heaney approached Roberts prior to the Dodgers’ last series in San Diego with the idea of pitching in relief. The 31-year-old left-hander relieved only sparingly in eight major league seasons, but he felt his command, velocity and secondary pitch – a slider – have improved enough since he relieved for the Yankees a year ago that he could perform the job well.
“Obviously we’re really strong at the top of the rotation,” Heaney said. “I know where I’m at. I wanted to make it clear (shifting to the bullpen) was not an issue.”
Urías allowed two runs in five innings. The left-hander finished the 2022 season with a career-low 2.16 ERA – best in the NL – in 175 innings.
Baseball’s only 20-game winner a year ago, Urías solidified his position as the Dodgers’ No. 1 starter. His next start is expected to be in Game 1 of the NLDS, though Roberts left open the possibility of shifting Urías to Game 2.
“We’ve got time to think about that,” Roberts said. “There’s some things to debate, 1 versus 2, not only that start in particular but you factor how guys can be deployed later on (in the series) too.”
The Dodgers fell behind 2-0 on solo home runs by Brendan Rodgers in the first inning and Sean Bouchard in the third.
Dodgers come from behind to beat Rockies for 110th win of season
In the third inning, the Dodgers got their first run and their first hit against Rockies starter Ryan Feltner. They could have had more.
Gavin Lux led off with a double to right field, then scored on a Cody Bellinger single. The next batter, Austin Barnes, drew a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs and the top of the order due up.
Feltner retired Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman in order. The Dodgers trailed 2-1.
Joey Gallo took over for Mookie Betts in the fourth inning and promptly tied the score in the fifth. He hunted a first-pitch fastball from Peltner and pummeled it 396 feet over the fence in right-center field, his 19th homer this season.
But the highest-scoring team in the National League only mustered seven runners against Feltner and two relievers. They batted only four times with runners in scoring position, collecting one hit.
