DENVER—The ever-reliable Max Scherzer just couldn’t get his usual grip on the baseball in the thin air at Coors Field. He licked his hand. He held the ball tighter. But nothing seemed to work. No worries, his teammates had his back on a rare off day for the three-time Cy Young winner. Max Muncy homered…

DENVER—First Julio Urías. Now Walker Buehler. That’s back-to-back off outings from key cogs in a Los Angeles rotation that boasted the best ERA in baseball. Logging too many innings? Wearing down? Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had a simpler explanation: “All guys have some bit of fatigue right now,” he said. Sam Hilliard lined a three-run…

DENVER—Pinch-hitter Albert Pujols drew on his vast baseball wisdom to get that clutch hit. Once he reached first base, he celebrated like a kid. Pennant chases will do that. Pujols drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle in the 10th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a rare off night…