Hyun-jin Ryu, Hanley Ramirez resuscitate Dodgers in 6-2 win

After their most lifeless performance of the season, the Dodgers were energized by Hyun-jin Ryu and Hanley Ramirez in a 6-2 win over the Rockies on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Ryu was at his most electric on Tuesday, with a career-high 12 strikeouts in six innings. He struck out at least two hitters in every inning but the second, when Jordan Pacheco was his only victim. Ryu allowed only three hits and two walks, and single runs in the first and sixth innings. Carlos Gonzalez tagged Ryu in the first inning for a 1-0 Rockies lead, but Ryu struck out the other three hitters of the inning.

The Dodgers answered Gonzalez in the first inning with singles from their first three hitters to tie the game. After the hits by Jerry Hairston, Nick Punto and Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead.

Hairston and Punto followed with RBI singles in the second inning to widen the Dodgers' advantage to 4-1, then Ramirez took center stage on his bobblehead night in the third inning.

Ramirez, in his third plate appearance since getting activated from the disabled list on Monday, hit a towering home run into left field for a 5-1 lead in the third, then followed with a double in the fourth inning.

After 25 games and 91 plate appearances through Monday, Dodgers shortstops had a total of one home run and one double. Ramirez matched that in his first three PA at the position.

The offensive burst by the Dodgers came against Jorge De La Rosa, who continued his career-long troubles against Los Angeles. De La Rosa is 0-8 with a 6.52 ERA against the Dodgers, and his teams have lost all 14 of his appearances against them.

After his first six starts, it's hard to ask Ryu for a better first month in the majors. He sits at 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA, with 46 strikeouts and 10 walks (by way of comparison, Clayton Kershaw has 47 strikeouts and 12 walks this year, so Ryu is in good company). His 12 strikeouts are the most in a game by a Dodgers rookie since Hideo Nomo struck out 13 Mets on Aug. 20, 1995.

Up next

The Dodgers go for their third consecutive series win on Wednesday night, with Josh Beckett facing off against Juan Nicasio in the series finale against Colorado.

Game info

Home runs: Hanley Ramirez (1); Carlos Gonzalez (8)

WP - Hyun-jin Ryu (3-1): 6 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts

LP - Jorge De La Rosa (2-3): 4 IP, 11 hits, 6 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeouts