The Dodgers got the better half of the duel between rookie Dominican pitchers, as the Dodger offense bested Juan Nicasio and the Rockies 8-5 in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers led 8-1 heading into the top of the ninth, but Hong-Chih Kuo and Mike MacDougal were anything but effective, allowing four runs and putting the tying runs on base. However, the indefatigable Javy Guerra came in to pick up the final two outs, collecting a save for the third straight day.
The runs were a welcome show of support for Rubby De La Rosa, who saw the Dodgers score a total of nine runs in his previous six starts. It was the first win for De La Rosa since winning in Colorado on June 12.
De La Rosa was a tad wild, but effectively so at times. He issued four walks, though three of them were to Troy Tulowitzki. Rubby struck out five in his six innings, throwing a career-high 113 pitches, and he hit 98 mph three times in his final frame. The Rockies took the lead off De La Rosa thanks to three consecutive singles with two outs in the top of the second inning. But that was the only run allowed by De La Rosa, and the Dodger offense showed later a better way to cash in three straight hits.
One day after singling their way to a win over Washington, the Dodgers showed some power in the bottom of the fourth inning against Colorado tonight. The Dodgers hit a pair of doubles and a home run in succession, and they did so in the best order possible. Rafael Furcal and Aaron Miles hit the two-baggers, tying the score at 1-1, and Andre Ethier followed with his longest home run of the year, a 429-foot no-doubter deep in the all-you-can-eat pavilion in right to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead.
The Dodgers added two runs in the sixth, as Juan Rivera smoked a double to left field to score Ethier from first base, followed by a two-out single up the middle by Dioner Navarro to score Rivera. Three more runs were cashed in by the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth, thanks to a cacophony of balls in play that managed to avoid landing in Colorado gloves, a four-hit, two-walk rally to slam the door shut on the game.
Notes
- Furcal had two more hits tonight, and also stole a base and scored a run. Furcal in his last three games has reached base eight times in 15 plate appearances.
- Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless eighth inning -- his 15th straight scoreless inning -- and struck out two. Jansen now has 100 strikeouts in his career (hat tip to Silverwidow for the note)...in 63 innings. Jansen has faced 262 major league batters, and 38.2% have walked directly back to the dugout.
- Navarro had an RBI single in three at-bats on the night, and also walked. It was Navarro's fourth straight game with at least one walk, the longest streak of his career.
- Jamey Carroll didn't even start tonight, and he picked up two hits. Carroll entered the game in the top of the seventh inning on a double switch, and picked up singles in both the seventh and eighth.
- The eight runs scored by the Dodgers were their most at home since May 31, 24 games ago.
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Clayton Kershaw takes the hill Tuesday night for the Dodgers, on Fernando Valenzuela bobblehead night. Jhoulys Chacin starts for the Rockies.
WP - Rubby De La Rosa (4-4): 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts
LP - Juan Nicasio (4-3): 5 2/3 IP, 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Sv - Javy Guerra (8): 2 up, 2 down