CarGo launches walk-off HR to stun Dodgers
DENVER -- Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez slugged a two-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning off Yimi Garcia for an 8-6 walk-off win on Saturday over the Dodgers, whose magic number remained two.
The Dodgers can clinch the NL West title on Sunday with a win over Colorado and a San Francisco loss to Oakland.
The Rockies began their final homestand of the season being swept in four games by the Pirates, who clinched a postseason berth. Gonzalez said the Rockies, who have won the first two with the Dodgers, didn't want to witness another celebration. They have an internal motivation -- a win in Sunday's series finale means the Rockies won't match the worst home performance in club history (35-46 in 2012).
Video: LAD@COL: Weiss on bullpen, CarGo's walk-off home run
"We're playing against really good teams," Gonzalez said. "Against the Pirates we were trying to do our best but they ran away with four games and celebrated in our house. That's the last thing you want to see. L.A. has that same opportunity now, but we're going to continue to fight."
Nolan Arenado staked the Rockies to a four-run lead with a first-inning grand slam off Dodgers starter Brett Anderson, who allowed six runs in four innings. But Colorado starter Kyle Kendrick couldn't protect the lead and was charged with six runs in five innings.
"I put us in a hole early," said Anderson. "Our guys did a great job coming back. In this park, five runs is like two runs in other places."
Andre Ethier hit a two-run homer in the second inning and doubled home the tying run off Brooks Brown in the three-run sixth inning. It was Ethier's 300th career double. Justin Morneau had four hits for the Rockies, all against left-handed pitchers. DJ LeMahieu led off the bottom of the ninth with a single and Gonzalez homered to center for his 39th of the year.
"Yimi's not the first guy he's gotten," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Gonzalez, who also homered off Garcia in their only previous meeting.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Video: Must C Classic: Arenado's 40th HR is a grand slam
What humidor? Coors Field remains a park for big offense. But in 2002, the club began storing baseballs in an atmosphere-controlled chamber, or so-called "humidor," to keep them from becoming hard and slick (both hitter-friendly results) in Colorado climate. With his shot to center off Anderson, Arenado not only became the first Rockies player since Todd Helton to reach 40 homers but the first to do it in the humidor era.
"It's pretty cool, pretty special, and I'm happy to get it out of the way to be honest about it," Arenado said.
Gonzalez's homer was his 39th of the season. The last time the club had multiple 40-homer hitters was 1997 -- Larry Walker (49), Andres Galarraga (41) and Vinny Castilla (40). More >
Video: LAD@COL: Seager collects his first career triple
Play like a vet: Corey Seager, returning from two days off for leg fatigue, led off the sixth inning with a triple to key a three-run rally. He's reached base in all 19 starts since his call-up.
Video: LAD@COL: Miller pitches 1-2-3 9th to earn the win
Holding them there: Rockies reliever Brooks Brown gave up an Ethier double to tie the game after replacing Kendrick. But from there, the bullpen of Miller, Rex Brothers, Gonzalez Germen and winning pitcher Justin Miller gave up a total of one hit. Miller (3-2) fanned two while fashioning his 24th scoreless appearance in 31 outings.
"Typically I go to him to put down the seventh, but tonight he worked a little bit later," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's done an outstanding job against left-handers and right-handers."
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The walkoff homer was just the second of Gonzalez's career. The other came on July 31, 2010 against the Cubs -- a memorable one because it gave Gonzalez a cycle.
HE'S BACK
Video: LAD@COL: Morneau collects four hits in Rockies' win
Morneau knocked a season-high four hits. Since returning from a four-month absence with a concussion and cervical neck sprain, Morneau has hit .385 (20-for-52).
WHAT'S NEXT
Dodgers: Alex Wood starts for the Dodgers in the 1:10 p.m. PT series finale. He pitched well but took the loss in his last outing against the D-backs. He's alternated wins and losses in his last eight starts and has thrown fewer than 79 pitches in each of his last three starts.
Home team: Lefty Chris Rusin, who held the Dodgers to three runs in six innings his last time facing them, will start the series and home finale at 2:10 p.m. MT.
Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.