Rival protesters clash in Bolivia as ex-President Evo Morales leads a march to the capital

EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia's pro-government supporters and security forces confronted protesters loyal to former president Evo Morales in a street melee Sunday, the second such violent escalation this week as fears grew of further unrest in the Andean nation.

The protesters and counterprotesters hurled firecrackers, homemade explosives and stones at each other across a dusty sprawl in the city of El Alto, while riot police unleashed tear gas into the crowds. At least eight people were injured, Bolivia's health ministry reported.

The standoff — erupting while thousands of Bolivians supporting Morales continued a weeklong 190-kilometer (118-mile) march to the capital of La Paz — spoke to the depth of the schism in Bolivian politics ahead of next year's presidential election.

Morales and his former economy minister-turned-bitter-rival, current President Luis Arce, are vying to lead Bolivia's long-dominant socialist party, known by its Spanish acronym MAS, into the 2025 vote. In recent months their power struggle has paralyzed the government, exacerbated the depletion of Bolivia's foreign-exchange reserves and fueled street protests.

The rolling political crisis began in 2019, when Morales — who came to power in 2006 — was forced to resign after being reelected to a third term in a vote marred by accusations of fraud and mass protests. He left the country but made a dramatic political comeback a year later, returning to find he had retained widespread support among poor and Indigenous Bolivians.

Mobilized by Morales, bound together by misery over Bolivia’s economic meltdown and outraged by President Arce's efforts to block the candidacy of their polarizing former leader, the marchers stopped Sunday on their sixth day of walking to sleep at an encampment 11 kilometers (7 miles) from El Alto, a sprawling city on a plateau above Bolivia’s capital.

Seeking to portray the march as a reflection of Bolivia’s Indigenous highland culture as much as a political exercise, Morales — surrounded by supporters waving the multicolored flag dear to Indigenous Andeans that the leftist leader turned into a patriotic symbol when he served as the country’s first Indigenous president — praised his supporters’ “peace and enthusiasm.”

Other Morales supporters broke off from the march and pressed into the scrappy outskirts of El Alto, where security forces and supporters of Arce had massed in anticipation of their arrival. The protesters and counterprotesters clashed in the neighborhood of Ventilla as acrid smoke from burning tires and thick clouds of tear gas coursed through the streets.

Each side blamed the other for the violence. Morales accused Arce's government of deploying “paramilitary groups to incite violence," busing officers into El Alto to stir up trouble — a claim echoed by Bolivia's ombudsman.

“It’s very sad that this government doesn't pay attention to its conscience,” said Benita Cruz, a Morales supporter at the scene of Sunday’s clashes. “They are repressing the poor and most humble people.”

A senior minister in Arce's government, Eduardo Del Castillo, lambasted Morales' march as "coup-mongering." In increasingly dramatic terms, Arce — who earlier this year faced what he described as a miltiary coup attempt — has accused Morales of seeking to sabotage his government.

The unrest offered a possible preview for the coming days, as Morales and his thousands of supporters have promised to continue their so-called “March to Save Bolivia” into La Paz despite vows by Arce's supporters to prevent them.

“We are holding on until we reach La Paz, we want to tell the government that it has seven days to solve the massive problems we have in the country,” said Marta Mamani, one of the marchers.

Valdez reported from La Paz, Bolivia. Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, below, advance toward supporters of current president Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A supporter of President Luis Arce throws a stone at supporters of former President Evo Morales as the two groups face off in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Former President Evo Morales, center, marches to La Paz with supporters to protest current President Luis Arce, near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales run from tear gas thrown by police during clashes with supporters of current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Former President Evo Morales, center, marches to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A supporter of former President Evo Morales, protesting the government of current President Luis Arce, clashes with Arce supporters in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of Bolivia's President Luis Arce block supporters of former President Evo Morales from passing as they march to the capital to protest the Arce's government in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Former President Evo Morales, third from left in the front row, marches to the capital with supporters to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales march to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

People run through tear gas thrown by police during clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A woman runs through tear gas thrown by police during clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Tires burn as supporters of former President Evo Morales, face off with supporters of current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of Bolivia's President Luis Arce face off with supporters of former President Evo Morales in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police stand in front of supporters of former President Evo Morales in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Police fire tear gas during clashes between supporters of former President Evo Morales and current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A supporter of former President Evo Morales clashes with supporters of current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A supporter of former President Evo Morales slings a rock at supporters of current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A supporter of former President Evo Morales throws a rock at supporters of current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales run from tear gas thrown by police during clashes with supporters of current President Luis Arce, in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales march to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce near El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, below, face off with supporters current President Luis Arce in El Alto, Bolivia, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a tying home run in the ninth inning and Mookie Betts followed with a game-ending drive as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday to maintain their three-game lead in the National League West.

Ohtani had four hits and added two stolen bases, giving him 53 home runs and 55 steals on the season.

Leading off the ninth after the Dodgers rallied to within a run, Ohtani lifted Seth Halvorsen's fourth offering, an 89-mph split-finger pitch, over the wall in right-center.

“To start that ninth inning with Shohei continuing to do what he does, he just doesn't seem human right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I really haven't seen a player as locked like Shohei is for as long as he's been in quite some time.”

Betts hit a walk-off homer to left field on a 101-mph sinker from Halvorsen (2-1) for his 19th on the season.

“It was huge, especially when you’re looking at the scoreboard and you see San Diego won," Betts said. "I didn’t mean to look at it, but they won and we needed to win a game there. Shohei starts it off with a homer there to give us some energy and fortunately I was able to put a good swing on it.”

Halvorsen, a rookie making his 10th career appearance, had just earned his first career save Saturday.

“You never want to expect the outcome of a pitch,” Havorsen said when asked about facing Ohtani as the tying run in the ninth. "You want to focus on the process and focus on executing a pitch.”

Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is trying to solidify a spot in the Dodgers’ playoff rotation, gave up four runs on five hits over three innings with three walks.

Yamamoto, in his third start back after a three-month stint on the injured list, is the likely No. 2 starter in the upcoming playoffs for Los Angeles.

Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández also hit home runs for the Dodgers, while five Los Angeles pitchers combined for a season-high 17 strikeouts. Blake Treinen (7-3) struck out the side in the ninth inning.

The Dodgers can win their 11th division title in the last 12 seasons with two victories over the Padres in the upcoming three-game series.

“It’ll be fun,” Betts said. "A lot of energy. I’m sure a lot of emotions and whatnot so it’ll be fun. These are the games we dream of playing.”

Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela gave up one run over five innings in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery. Brendan Rodgers and Nolan Jones each drove in two runs for the Rockies, who need three wins over their last six games to avoid a second consecutive 100-loss season.

The Rockies loaded the bases four batters into the game on singles from Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon, as well as a walk to Michael Toglia, before Rodgers delivered a two-run single. Jones added an RBI ground out for the early 3-0 lead.

“It wasn't pretty early, we had some opportunities ... and we killed some rallies, but it was just great to see our guys still compete,” Roberts said.

The only run Los Angeles scored off Senzatela came on Teoscar Hernández's 31st home run of the season in the fourth inning.

Over the past week, Ohtani was 16 for 32 (.500) with six home runs, seven stolen bases, 17 RBIs, 11 runs scored and a 1.668 OPS.

“That’s why he got $700 million to carry us and we just have to support him,” Betts said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: 3B Max Muncy was out of the starting lineup with soreness on his side after diving to make a play Saturday.

UP NEXT

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (3-10, 4.73 ERA) is slated to start against the Cardinals on Tuesday to open the final homestand of the season.

Dodgers: RHP Landon Knack (3-4, 3.39 ERA) starts Tuesday in the final home series against the Padres.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, scores on a single by Freddie Freeman as Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman stands by during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani scores on a single by Freddie Freeman during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon, right, scores on a single by Brendan Rodgers as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith takes a late throw during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Rockies' Jake Cave, right, scores on a double by Hunter Goodman as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith waits for the ball during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani reacts to taking a strike during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani acknowledges the first base umpire after hitting a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Teoscar Hernández, left, has sunflower seeds thrown at him by Mookie Betts after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani steals second during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts celebrates after hitting a walk-off solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. The Dodgers won 6-5. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani heads to third as Freddie Freeman grounds into a double play to end the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)