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Add Shohei Ohtani to list of Mahomes, Rantanen, ‘SGA’ of Denver sports nemeses | Kevin’s Take

Of all the Rockies killers that have haunted the diamond at 20th and Blake since 1995, Shohei Ohtani may be the most diabolical Dodger of them all.

Max Muncy still gets the clutch hits to keep the innings going. Matt Kemp usually drives in the key runs. (No one has more RBIs against the Rockies than Kemp’s 154.) Clayton Kershaw usually pitched the stellar game. (His 29 wins against Colorado are the most against the Rockies.)

If you’re wearing purple, they’re all problematic in their own ways.

Ohtani? He’s using his own ways to create a new chapter of Colorado pain.

On Monday night at Coors Field, Ohtani singled in the third inning to not only extend his overall on-base streak to 52 games, tying the second-longest mark for any MLB player since 2005, but also notch a hit in his 14th consecutive game against the Rockies.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, hits a ground ball off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

And Ohtani has been doing damage against Colorado long before he put on a Dodgers uniform. That third-inning single also marked the 35th straight game Ohtani has reached base against Colorado, dating back to July 2021 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

During that stretch, heading into Monday night, Ohtani had slashed .391/.472/.761 with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs.

Those are the true numbers of a Rockies killer. But they aren’t the only way Ohtani seems to have a spell over Colorado.

Take Monday night, for example. Ohtani opened the game with a groundout to Troy Johnston at first base. What seemed like an easy out turned into an error when Johnston’s flip to Jose Quintana, covering first from the mound, was bobbled and dropped. Ohtani, taking advantage of the opportunity, stole second to log his first stolen base of the season.

Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro, left, fields the throw as Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) steals second in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

In the third inning, after Ohtani had reached with that single, he was running to third when a grounder by Will Smith evaded third baseman Kyle Karros. Ohtani trotted home without missing a beat as Karros wondered how the ball had evaded him.

One inning later, for his final and perhaps most head-shaking moment of the night, Ohtani seemed to hit into an inning-ending double play. However, the third-base umpire ruled that Quintana had balked, erasing the double play and giving the Dodgers yet another run.

For the Rockies, it’s hard enough to get Ohtani out anytime. Add in whatever voodoo was happening on Monday night and it’s enough to even make the most religious Rockies fan wonder what in heaven’s name is going on.

There is no question Ohtani is the greatest player of this generation and arguably the finest to ever step on the field. The fact that he plays for the Dodgers and will continue to plague Colorado for years to come is a curse that Rockies fans are obliged to endure.

The Broncos have Patrick Mahomes. The Nuggets have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Avs have old friend Mikko Rantanen and that Avalanche-Stars Game 7.

Ohtani may not bring out the ire in Denver fans the three names above do, but it’s clear Colorado’s quest to get back to respectability includes finding a way to keep Ohtani from making an impact every game.

There are steps involved in measuring the climb back up the National League West ladder. Colorado’s four-game split with the Dodgers and 6-4 record at Coors Field through the first 10 home games is a sign the Rockies certainly aren’t the team that floundered through 119 losses last season.

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jose Quintana works against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 20, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

A 9-14 record playing amid a schedule with 29 straight games against teams that finished last season at .500 or better may not jump out to those who don’t follow the Rockies regularly. However, to those who have stuck around through three consecutive 100-loss seasons, there are reasons for hope.

The Rockies won’t see the Dodgers again until May 25 at Chavez Ravine. More than a month from now, they will have a better feel for the direction of this Colorado team.

We’ll also have a month to watch Ohtani from afar and be thankful he’s tormenting a team not named the Rockies.

***

Dodgers 12, Rockies 3

What happened: Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning to get the Dodgers going. The duo finished the night 7-for-7 at the plate with Muncy hitting a pair of homers.

On the mound: In his first Coors Field start as a member of the Rockies, Jose Quintana gave up eight hits and six runs (four earned) during his 90-pitch outing that got him through 5.0 innings.

At the plate: Colorado couldn’t consistently solve Los Angeles starter Justin Wrobleski, who gave up consecutive doubles to Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle to open the game but allowed just one extra-base hit after that.

What’s next: Colorado’s Chase Dollander is expected to get the majority of innings against the San Diego Padres as a three-game series between the NL West rivals opens at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday at Coors Field.



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