The fact that the Dodgers scored 13 runs at Coors Field in Denver Colorado on Thursday night is anything but breaking news; Heaven knows that it’s not all that uncommon for teams to score double-digit runs at the mile high ballpark often referred to as ‘The Launch Pad.’ But what is uncommon is that they did so without the benefit of a single home run in their 13-0 rout of the Colorado Rockies in front of a crowd of 32,182, a good many of whom were wearing Dodger Blue.

But what made Thursday’s lopsided shutout even more uncommon is that it was also historic as one of four shutouts in Major League Baseball on Thursday. This from Stats by STATS on Twitter:

That was 132 years ago, when Major League Baseball was exactly 21 years old.

In addition to the Dodgers shutting out the Rockies at Coors Field, the New York Yankees shutout the Kansas City Royals 1-0 at Yankee Stadium, the Texas Rangers shutout the Angels of Anaheim 2-0 at Angels Stadium, and the Baltimore Orioles shutout the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 at Camden Yards.

As for the lopsided game itself, it is impossible not to acknowledge the absolutely stellar pitching performance by 32-year-old Dodgers left-hander Tyler Anderson, who allowed no runs and only four hits, while walking none and striking out six in his brilliant seven innings pitched.

“He was good, very efficient, and obviously coming here pitching with the lead, it’s not easy,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters postgame. “I think you don’t want to be, you know, just throw strikes and let ’em hit it, but you don’t want to kind of nibble and walk guys. So for him to… he had his entire mix. I thought the cutter was really good tonight, I thought the fastball command was really good, and the change-up obviously. So, kept those guys at bay.

“For him to go seven innings was big for us to kinda reset our ‘pen into the series, and obviously the offense responded well,” Roberts added.

Well indeed.

Of the Dodgers starting nine, only designated hitter Jake Lamb went hitless, with shortstop Trea Turner and second baseman Gavin Lux both with three hits on the night. Dodgers All-Star right fielder Mookie Betts and catcher Will Smith both had two hits, and Turner and Smith both drove in three runs on the night.

With his first-inning single to right field, Turner also extended his hitting streak to 15 games and upped his batting average to .312, second on the team to Freddie Freeman‘s .323. Turner also had a bases loaded/bases clearing double in the top of the second inning, which set the tone for the rest of the night.

With their historic win, the Dodgers increased their lead over the idle San Diego Padres to 12 games in the NL West.

Play Ball!

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