Johnson's go-ahead 2-run double in the 6th helps Rockies beat Dodgers 4-3

DENVER (AP) — Troy Johnston had a go-ahead, two-run double in the sixth inning and finished with three hits to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.

The Rockies had been 5-22 against the Dodgers over the past three seasons, including 3-12 at Coors Field. Los Angeles had won 11 of its previous 13 games and entered Saturday 6-1 in road games this season.

After allowing three runs in the first two innings, Colorado shut down the most productive offense in the majors with 3 1/3 shutout innings from its bullpen. Victor Vodnik gave up two singles in the ninth inning, but Kyle Tucker popped out to left field to end the game as Vodnik earned his third save of the season.

Brennan Bernardino (2-0) earned the win for the Rockies. Will Klein (1-1), who gave up Johnston’s double in the sixth, took the loss.

TJ Rumfield and Kyle Karros each added an RBI in the win for Colorado.

On an afternoon in which the Shohei Ohtani was in the same two-mile radius in Denver as fellow global superstars Lionel Messi with Inter Miami and the Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, the Dodgers' two-way star singled in the ninth inning to extend his on-base streak to 50 games. That tied Hall of Famer Willie Keeler for the franchise’s third-longest run since 1900. Ohtani had reached base twice earlier in the game, both times as a result of errors.

The Dodgers had a chance in the eighth inning to tie the game or take the lead, with the bases loaded and two outs. But, Max Muncy grounded out to end the threat.

Tucker had three hits for Los Angeles, including a two-run homer in the first inning.

Colorado RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10 ERA) will face RHP Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23) in the third game of the four-game series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Colorado Rockies first baseman Troy Johnston, left, celebrates with left fielder Jordan Beck after defeasting the Los Angeles Dodgers in a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Troy Johnston, right, follows the flight of his double to drive in two runs off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Will Klein in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Will Klein works against the Colorado Rockies in the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Victor Vodnik works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani, right, grounds out as Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, center, and home plate umpire Dan Issogna, left, look on in the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points, LeBron James had 19 points and 13 assists, and the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers capitalized on Kevin Durant's injury absence for a 107-98 victory over the Houston Rockets in the opener of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night.

Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the fourth-seeded Lakers, who pulled off an impressive win without their top two scorers.

Both teams played the opener without their most important player. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have been out indefinitely with injuries since April 2, while Durant was a late scratch with a bruised right knee.

Los Angeles thrived by hitting 60.6% of its shots while holding the Rockets to 37.6% shooting with pesky defense.

Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and Jabari Smith Jr. had 16 points and 12 rebounds for the fifth-seeded Rockets, who finished one game behind Los Angeles in the regular season. Amen Thompson added 17 points, but Houston's young core got off to an inconsistent start after becoming the firm favorite in this series due to the Lakers' injury woes.

Game 2 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Lakers acquired Kennard from Atlanta in early February, and the NBA’s most accurate 3-point shooter became a key reserve before he seized a major role over the past two weeks in the absence of Los Angeles’ starting backcourt. He hit four 3-pointers in Game 1 while making nine of his first 12 shots.

Durant must wait at least one more game to make his Rockets playoff debut after banging knees with a teammate in practice Wednesday. Reed Sheppard took his spot in the starting lineup and hit five 3-pointers while scoring 17 points, but the Rockets struggled for consistent half-court offense in Durant’s absence despite grabbing 21 offensive rebounds.

The Lakers took the lead for good on their first bucket of the second half, and they pushed their advantage to 16 points in the fourth quarter. Kennard scored 16 points after halftime, while The 41-year-old James began his 19th NBA postseason with an inspired, eight-assist first quarter followed by several gritty baskets down the stretch.

Los Angeles also got a boost from veteran guard Marcus Smart, who had 15 points and eight assists with four 3-pointers in his Lakers playoff debut. Smart said before the series that success would come down to “willpower” — and the Lakers clearly had more for starters.

Bronny James began the second quarter playing alongside his famous father in the first significant playoff minutes of the 21-year-old's career.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, slaps hands with guard Bronny James during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart defends during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)