Los Angeles, CA – The Dodgers picked up their 13th win of the season, beating the Rockies 6-2 on Jackie Robinson Day. Both sides took part in an annual gathering at the Jackie Robinson statue beyond the centerfield wall before the game.
The baseball icon’s granddaughter, Sonya Pankey, and one of his friends, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, met the teams there and shared some of the knowledge that Robinson had passed along to them.
“We got a little snapshot of a history lesson, and this was a one-off from Jackie. Guys like Kareem are not going to be with us forever, so to hear first-hand stories is really powerful, and I appreciate him coming out here and sharing his stories about Jackie,” said Dave Roberts.
Los Angeles batted around in the fourth inning to build a 5-0 lead over Colorado. Will Smith ignited the offensive surge with a three-run homer to left.
The Rockies scored two in the fourth and threatened again in the seventh, but Kirby Yates punched out Kyle Farmer to get out of a two-out jam with men on second and third.
Tommy Edman, who has had a particularly hot start to the season, went 4-5. After hitting six home runs in 2024, he already has six in 19 games this year, leading the team.
“I think Tommy is a great player, and this is just him. I don’t think he is exceeding any expectations by any means; I think this is just Tommy being Tommy,” said Mookie Betts.
Chris Taylor showed some life in centerfield, making a run-saving diving catch while also singling in a run in the third inning. If Taylor can get back to any level of consistency, the Dodgers could use him right now.
Max Muncy and Andy Pages have been disappointing in the field and at the plate this year, and Taylor could give them some much-needed time off to reset.
April 15th is always bigger than just the game. There is something special about every player wearing 42, even more so at Dodger Stadium. It is a nice reminder of how far the game has come and what it must continue to strive to achieve.
“It is very diverse. There are more people from different countries than there have ever been in this game, which is great, but there is room for even more,” said Roberts.
Roberts remains one of only two Black managers in the MLB, something he has mentioned in years past on Jackie Robinson Day.
“I think (Jackie) would say we need to do better. I think that he would be heartbroken to see that we are still here after all of his sacrifices, only having two Black managers,” said Roberts. “It is important to get the best, qualified people, and I believe that there are people of color who are very qualified to do this job.”
Roberts has firmly established himself as one of the best managers in the league, and he will one day be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The other Black MLB manager, Ron Washington, has led the Angels to an unexpected 9-7 start, good for second in the AL West.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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