DENVER -- Nolan Arenado continued to prove why he's a prime All-Star candidate during Friday's 11-8 loss to the Dodgers at Coors Field.
Arenado's seventh-inning leadoff homer off Dodgers reliever Yimi Garcia cut the Rockies' deficit to 9-7 -- after the Dodgers had grabbed the momentum earlier.
Arenado jumped on Garcia's 1-0 slider and put it into the left-field seats, an estimated 370 feet from home plate with an exit velocity of 100.2 mph, according to Statcast™.
"It was just a mistake -- watching the replay, I think he missed his spot," Arenado said. "That's what you've got to do in this league. When pitchers make mistakes, you've got to be able to take advantage of them."
It was Arenado's 12th homer of the season, and his fourth in seven games this homestand. But Arenado demonstrated why the Rockies, who had 13 hits and reached double figures in that for the sixth straight game, always have a shot.
The Rockies had a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, but a Chris Taylor three-run homer off reliever Brooks Pounders, who didn't retire any of the four batters he faced, keyed a four-run sixth for the Dodgers that gave them a 9-6 lead.
The Rockies entered the ninth down four runs, and Carlos Gonzalez's RBI single cut it to three. But the Rockies could manage nothing further against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen despite having the tying run at the plate.
"There's always something special that can be blooming with our team and our lineup; there's always an opportunity to come back," Arenado said. "But he [Jansen] is one of the best in the game. There's a reason why he gets out of those situations, and he got out of it there."