Dodgers use big inning to beat Rockies again

Josh Beckett pitched yet another scoreless start on Sunday, but also got the Dodgers' winning rally started in the fifth inning of an 8-2 victory over the Rockies at Coors Field.

The win secured a third straight series win against the Rockies, and kept the Dodgers in first place in the National League West, by a half-game over San Francisco.

Beckett didn't have his best stuff, nor his best control, but managed to get through five innings without allowing a run, his seventh scoreless start of the season. In nine of his 17 starts he has allowed zero or one run this year, and lowered his ERA to 2.26, good for third in the National League.

Beckett walked Corey Dickerson in the first inning, then with one out in the third inning walked Charlie Blackmon then Dickerson again. Beckett's third walk of the game snapped the Dodgers' streak of 39 straight games with two or fewer walks by their starting pitcher, the longest streak of the modern era (since 1900).

But Beckett's biggest contribution on Sunday might have been at the plate, where he doubled with one out in the fifth inning. A single and a walk later, the team found itself with the bases loaded, an Achilles heel so far this year. But Adrian Gonzalez cashed in with a single to score two runs to open the scoring.

Matt Kemp followed with an RBI single, then after a walk to Scott Van Slyke to load the bases again, Juan Uribe grounded a ball up the third base line. Nolan Arenado made a terrific play to get to the ball then, knowing he didn't have a play at first base, threw home to nearly get Gonzalez but catcher Willin Rosario wasn't set up for the force play and tagged Gonzalez too late. In all, the Dodgers scored five runs in the fifth.

It was the 10th time this season the Dodgers have scored at least five runs in an inning, including one in each of the last three games.

The Dodgers added three insurance runs in the eighth inning, including an RBI double by freshly minted All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig.

The Rockies scored a run in the eighth inning because Carlos Triunfel lost track of outs and failed to take a few steps to touch second base before throwing to first on what was an easy double play ball.

Notes

Miguel Rojas, who picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded hit by pitch in the fifth, left the game with a right forearm contusion. X-rays were negative, and the team says he is day-to-day.

With singles by Gonzalez and Uribe in the fifth inning, the Dodgers got two hits with the bases loaded in the same game for the first time since Aug. 22, 2013.

Kemp singled to right field in the second inning to snap an 0-for-18 slump. He ended his day with four hits.

Dee Gordon's infield single to second base in the third inning was his 100th hit of the season, making Gordon the first Dodgers middle infielder with 100 hits before the All-Star break since Cesar Izturis in 2004.

Beckett's double in the fifth inning was his third two-bagger in his last two starts. The last Dodgers pitcher with extra-base hits in back-to-back games was Chad Billingsley from May 9-14, 2011.

Gonzalez was originally called out at home on the throw home by Arenado in the fifth inning, but upon instant replay challenge was ruled safe. The Dodgers are 13-8 in replay challenges this season.

Up next

After 17 games in 17 days the Dodgers have Monday off, part of which will be used to travel to Detroit. The Dodgers will next visit the Tigers for a brief two-game series at Comerica Park beginning Tuesday night, with Hyun-jin Ryu on the mound. Justin Verlander takes the mound on Tuesday for Detroit.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: none

WP - Josh Beckett (6-5): 5 IP, 3 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts

LP - Yohan Flande (0-2): 4⅓ IP, 9 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks