Juan Uribe, Zack Greinke lift Dodgers over Rockies, into 1st place

Juan Uribe scalded a single past second base in the ninth inning to score Matt Kemp and give the Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Rockies on Thursday night at Coors Field. It made a winner out of Zack Greinke, who matched his season high with eight innings.

The win moved the Dodgers back into first place in the National League West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.

The game nearly got away from Greinke and the Dodgers in the eighth inning, when Justin Morneau's double to right center field was pre-approved for a Dodgers outfield automatic upgrade™, making it an RBI triple to tie the score at 2-2 and put a runner on third base with only one out.

But Greinke, who was efficient most of the night, allowing him to pitch into the eighth inning for the fourth time this season, recovered to get Troy Tulowitzki to pop out, then after an intentional walk to Corey Dickerson, struck out Nolan Arenado to end the inning and preserve the tie.

After the Rockies tied it, Kemp led off the ninth with a walk against LaTroy Hawkins, then advanced to second on a groundout by Scott Van Slyke, who doubled earlier in the game, setting up Uribe's heroics.

Uribe was 3-for-4 with a double, and scored earlier in the game on a sacrifice fly from A.J. Ellis.

Greinke struck out eight on the night to earn his 11th win of the year, tying Adam Wainwright for the National League lead.

Greinke only walked two, giving the Dodgers a 37th straight game with two or fewer walks by their starting pitchers, surpassing the 2005 Twins for the most since 1900, per Elias. Yet another way this pitching staff is better than Johan Santana, Brad Radke, Carlos Silva, et al.

Up next

Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in search of his seventh straight win on Friday evening, while the newly acquired Jair Jurrjens will make his first start for Colorado.

Thursday particulars

Home runs: none

WP - Zack Greinke (11-4): 8 IP, 9 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 2 walks, 8 strikeouts

LP - LaTroy Hawkins (2-2): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Sv - Kenley Jansen (26): 1 IP, 1 strikeout