LOS ANGELES -- German Márquez pitched well enough to win on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon backed up his efforts with home runs off a dominant Walker Buehler. But an early error proved costly for the Rockies, who fell to the Dodgers, 4-2, on a walk-off home run in the ninth.

• Box score

Here are three takeaways from the Rockies’ series-opening loss:

1) Marquez magnificent

Marquez has pitched some very good games at Dodger Stadium in his young career. In two of his three 2018 starts in Los Angeles, he allowed a sole run, in seven and eight innings, respectively.

On Friday, Marquez added another fine start to his resume, working eight innings and once again allowing just one earned run, which came on a solo shot by Cody Bellinger. Marquez struck out eight batters and walked none, while allowing five hits. It was the third time this season Marquez has gone at least eight innings.

“German had a good breaking ball, he had a good fastball,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “And [catcher Tony Wolters] did a good job of mixing German’s pitches.”

Marquez had the misfortune of running up against Buehler on a historically good night. In a rematch of last season’s National League West Game 163 tiebreaker, Buehler struck out a career-high 16 batters and walked none while surrendering just three hits.

“It was well-pitched,” said Black. “Two young guys with good stuff, good arms, and it showed tonight.”

The last time the Rockies played a game in which both starters each went at least eight innings also happened at Dodger Stadium. On Sept. 16, 2015, Jorge De La Rosa took the complete-game loss against Alex Wood.

2) Error looms large

Marquez may have only allowed one earned run, but the unearned run that scored while he was pitching ended up being the difference in the game. It was all a matter of unfortunate timing.

With Max Muncy on first base, shortstop Brendan Rodgers caught a line drive off the bat of Matt Beaty, then threw to first in an attempt to double Muncy off. His throw caught Muncy on the arm, sailed on to hit a camera and caromed back onto the field. Muncy was awarded two bases, and the next at-bat, he came in on a sacrifice fly.

“I had a tough angle,” said Rodgers, who was recalled as an injury replacement on Thursday. “I just remember him kind of looking back, trying to stay in the line, ‘cause I would’ve had to go way or the line or a couple of steps back to clear the lane. He kind of just looked back and looked like he kind of ran into it.”

Although Black came onto the field to question the decision to award Muncy third base, he said postgame that the umpires got it correct.

“They made the right call for the moment,” said Black.

3) Arenado, Blackmon make it a ballgame

Few Rockies even managed to put the ball in play against Buehler on Friday. Arenado and Blackmon didn’t just make contact -- they hit it over the fence.

Fresh off of finding out that they’re finalists for the 2019 All-Star Game National League starting lineup, Arenado and Blackmon didn’t let Buehler’s performance get in the way of their own hot hitting. The homers accounted for two of the three hits the Rockies managed against Buehler.

“It was just a pitch up he left over the plate,” Arenado said of his fourth-inning blast, which was the Rockies’ first hit of the game and his 19th homer of the season. “I was able to not miss it. With him, you can’t miss mistakes, can’t give him another chance.”

Blackmon’s homer, his 18th, extended his hitting streak to 11 games and his on-base streak to 31 games. He also collected the Rockies’ third hit, a single in the top of the ninth.

“That home run was not a bad pitch,” said Blackmon.” I think I just kind of hit in the right spot down the line, but it stayed fair. ... I didn’t hit it that hard, it was just right down the line.”

“Two of our best players got it done against one of the best pitchers in the league,” said Black. “That’s what great players do.”