Colorado Rockies left fielder Kris Bryant. (Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports)
Rockies’ outfielder Kris Bryant may be capable of playing multiple defensive positions but he still made a critical error against the Dodgers.
There’s immense value to having a player move around the defensive line up. Kris Bryant is one of those players, playing hundreds of games each at third base, left field and right field.
However, as much of an advantage versatility can be, it can also result in big errors on the simplest plays.
Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, Bryant fell into that trap on Sunday against the Dodgers.
Kris Bryant’s error proves defensive flexibility isn’t always a good thing
Colorado was already having a rough sixth inning when Bryant inexplicably dropped a fly ball into left field.
The Dodgers trailed 6-0 when they loaded the bases on a Justin Turner single, a Will Smith walk and a Cody Bellinger single. Chris Taylor brought home Turner on a sacrifice fly to left. The damage for the Rockies should have ended there with their lead still comfortable at 6-1. Even though the bases were loaded after Gavin Lux singled, Jhoulys Chacín replaced Antonio Senzatela and struck out Mookie Betts for the second out of the inning.
If Bryant had simply fielded Freddie Freeman’s hit, the inning would have been over. Instead, Los Angeles scored three more runs to make it 6-4.
Colorado responded with an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth but what had been a rout was still a much more tight affair.
Los Angeles beat the Rockies on Opening Day but Colorado came out on top in the second game of the series thanks to a late home run from former Dodger Connor Joe.