Justin Turner pinch-hit home run keys 9-5 win

Justin Turner did not have a pinch-hit home run in his career until he hit one against the Giants last month. On Sunday, Turner hit his second pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning. That hit sparked the Dodgers 9-5 win over the Rockies at Coors Field. The Dodgers ended up sweeping both games in the series.

After Turner's home run, the Dodgers scored two more runs as Howie Kendrick singled in Joc Pederson and then Adrian Gonzalez picked up his fourth RBI of the day when his sacrifice fly scored Jimmy Rollins.

Pedro Baez pitched 1⅓ innings to pick up his first career win and Adam Liberatore and Yimi Garcia shut down the Rockies to close out the game. Baez had the key pitching moment for the Dodgers when he struck out Troy Tulowitzki with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning.

Clayton Kershaw started and pitched well early, in the first three innings, he retired nine of ten with four strikeouts. In the fourth inning, leading 2-0, Kershaw faced nine batters and allowed five runs, five hits and one walk. Most of the balls were not well hit but the Rockies took a 5-2 lead.

The Rockies lead did not last long. The Dodgers would load the bases on three consecutive walks by Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa. Adrian Gonzalez then doubled down the right field line and all three runners scored to tie the game

The Dodgers scored their first two runs on a Enrique Hernandez fielder's choice that scored Alex Guerrero and then in the fourth inning, when A.J. Ellis walked with the bases loaded scoring Adrian Gonzalez.

Kershaw ended up pitching 5⅔ innings and he gave up five runs, eight hits, four walks and struck out five. This was the first time Kershaw had given up as many as eight hits and four walks in a game since May 30, 2012.

Notes

Clayton Kershaw recorded his 1500th strikeout of his career during the game.  He joined Don Sutton and Fernando Valenzuela as the only pitchers who began their career in Los Angeles to reach at least 1500 strikeouts.  Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale also had more than 1500 strikeouts in their time as Los Angeles Dodgers but they began their careers in Brooklyn.

Alex Guerrero and Justin Turner each have two pinch-hit home runs. The Dodgers have four pinch-hit home runs this season, they had one in 2014.

Saturday night's rainout is scheduled to be made up as a day/night double-header on June 2nd.

Up next

Dodgers return home and welcome back Dee Gordon and the Miami Marlins.  Zack Greinke takes the mound Monday night against right-hander Tom Koehler.

Sunday particulars

Home runs: Justin Turner (4)

WP -  Pedro Baez (1-0): 1⅓ IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

LP -  Scott Oberg (1-1): 1 IP, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, 2 runs