Jimmy Rollins, Clayton Kershaw lead Dodgers over Rockies

LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw got Kershaw-like results on the mound, and Jimmy Rollins produced at the plate, helping the offense build a lead big enough to withstand some more bullpen turbulence. But in the end, the Dodgers landed safely with a 6-4 win over the Rockies on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Rollins got the offense going with a home run in the first, then doubled and scored in the fourth, and drove in a run with a single in the fifth. He added a single in the eighth, setting a new season high with four hits.

On the season, Rollins is up to .198/.279/.351, though he's 9-for-26 (.346) with three extra-base hits in his last seven games.

"Jimmy's been swinging the bat well for a while now. They just started to fall," manager Don Mattingly said. "You get frustrated when you don't see results. Tonight was definitely good."

Howie Kendrick added three hits of his own and scored a run, while Justin Turner had two hits, including a double.

Kershaw entered the game with solid peripheral numbers but a pedestrian 1-2 record with a very un-Kershaw-like 4.26 ERA. Mattingly was amused by questions wondering what what was wrong with his ace.

"I don't feel like there's a big corner to turn, other then to have one of those 'not give up any run' games, where he's just dominating," Mattingly said before the game. "If Clayton is our problem, we're in pretty good shape."

On cue, Kershaw nearly had one of those "not give up any run" games on Friday, and the Dodgers were in good shape.

Kershaw allowed four hits and three walks in 6⅔ innings, earning his second win of the season and 100th of his career. Kershaw struck out 10, the 31st double-digit strikeout game of his career, and second this season. He matched a season high with 110 pitches, the same number he threw on Sunday in Colorado.

He didn't allow a run until the seventh, when two hits and a walk scored one run and ended his night with two outs in the inning. Paco Rodriguez allowed both inherited runners to score, plus one of his own on a three-run double by Daniel Descalso that cut a six-run Dodgers lead to 6-4.

Asked what he thought of the "What's wrong with Kershaw?" narrative, Kershaw had a funny response.

"I never read what you guys write," Kershaw said. "It doesn't really affect me one way or another.

"I feel an obligation to the team and the organization to pitch well. They made a huge investment in me to do that, so that's really what I'm trying to do. Hopefully tonight gets us back on track."

Yimi Garcia, back on the mound one night after blowing his second save in four days, struck out Wilin Rosario with the tying runs on base to end the inning and the Colorado threat.

Mattingly wanted to ease Kenley Jansen back into major league action in a relatively low-leverage outing, but up two runs in the eighth inning was as close as the Dodgers were going to get. But Jansen made the best of it and then some.

After Carlos Gonzalez struck out but reached on a passed ball to open the eighth, Jansen struck out the next three batters, tying a major league record with four strikeouts in an inning, and on only 14 pitches to boot. Six Dodgers have done it, with Zack Greinke the last before Jansen, on July 25, 2014 at San Francisco.

The ninth inning was less smooth, with Adam Liberatore allowing two singles before giving way to Juan Nicasio with one out. Nicasio got the final two outs for his first career save. He is the fourth different Dodgers pitcher to record a save this season.

Notes

The Dodgers scored six runs for he 18th time this season, over half of their games, the most in baseball (two more than Kansas City).

Rollins' single in the fifth inning scored Kershaw, giving Rollins 900 career RBI.

Kershaw in his last six home starts against the Rockies has 65 strikeouts and seven walks.

Troy Tulowitzki left Friday's game in the third inning with tightness in his left quadriceps, and is day-to-day.

Friday particulars

WP - Clayton Kershaw (2-2): 6⅔ IP, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts

LP - Eddie Butler (2-4): 2⅔ IP, 6 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, 1 strikeout

Sv - Juan Nicasio (1): ⅔ IP, 2 strikeouts