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.
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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)
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)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Christian Pulisic returned to the field for the United States on Thursday night just in time to warm up for the World Cup games that really matter starting next week.
Pulisic entered the Americans' 3-2 loss to Turkey as a substitute early in the second half to the soundtrack of an enormous roar from the sellout crowd at SoFi Stadium.
He immediately looked comfortable in his first game action in 13 days, contributing to several strong attacks and coming awfully close to scoring a goal shortly after his entrance. Pulisic also had a lowlight when rising star Arda Güler nutmegged him — flicked the ball between his legs — to begin the sequence that ended with Kaan Ayhan's winning goal on the final kick of the match.
The loss didn't matter to the Americans, but the chance to prepare for next week was the important part. The U.S. faces Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32 on Wednesday.
“His goal was to get some minutes to be ready” for next week, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “I'm happy because I think he made a good impact when he was on the pitch.”
Pulisic played dynamically in the first half of the Americans' tournament-opening, 4-1 victory over Paraguay nearly two weeks ago, creating one goal and assisting on another — but he came off at halftime due to a calf injury he had picked up in training.
The AC Milan midfielder missed the Americans' next match against Australia, and he sat out the first half against Turkey before coming on as a substitute in the 58th minute to that massive cheer from the raucous Los Angeles-area crowd.
Pulisic didn't stop to speak to reporters in the mixed zone after the loss, but he thinks he'll be ready when the U.S. attempts to win a knockout-round World Cup match for only the second time.
"I felt good, so it was really nice to be back with the team and get some minutes,” Pulisic told Fox. “I felt good with the ball. It was a tough way to end for us, for sure. But at the end of the day, we win the group, and we just have to look forward to next week.”
Pulisic said this week that he was ready to play again, and he created a scoring opportunity only a couple of minutes after he entered the 2-2 game with a dynamic run down the left side.
Pulisic nearly scored in the 63rd minute, but his quick shot in traffic was deflected off the goalpost by Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
“You saw his quality, and you saw when he came in the impact he had,” Sebastian Berhalter said. “He’s our guy. he’s a leader in his own right.”
Pulisic had another excellent pass to Ricardo Pepi in injury time, but his teammate couldn't get off a shot. The U.S. appeared to be headed to a draw — until Turkey pulled out an extraordinary late goal that began with a bit of magic from Güler, the 21-year-old Real Madrid star.
Boxed into the corner by two Americans, Güler flicked the ball perfectly between Pulisic's legs and ran around him, creating the space necessary to start the final sequence. Salih Ozcan kicked a long cross to Can Uzun got the ball in space on the back post slipped it under sprawling goalkeeper Matt Turner to Ayhan.
That sequence aside, Pulisic's presence energized the American attack and portended well for its next match, according to his teammates.
“(Pulisic) is a special player," U.S. captain Weston McKennie told Fox. "There’s no doubt that he adds something to the group. He adds his 1-on-1 qualities. Whenever the game might look dry or the game isn’t creative or something, he can come in and be that player to create something out of thin air. It was good to see him back on the pitch. Hopefully we’ll see him again in San Francisco.”
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here.
United States' Christian Pulisic, left, and teammate Cristian Roldan arrive at the stadium ahead of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Christian Pulisic, center, and Turkey's Ozan Kabak argue during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) kicks the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) reacts during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Christian Pulisic walks off the field after a World Cup Group D soccer match against Turkey in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
