Alex Wood throws another gem in Dodgers’ shutout of Rockies

Alex Wood continued to stake his claim to a permanent starting rotation spot, and the Dodgers got production from several role players in a 4-0 win over the Rockies on Saturday night at Coors Field in Denver.

Wood continued his superb May, which has really been a very good year to date. The left-hander struck out 10 in six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and a walk en route to his fourth win of the season.

It was the sixth double-digit strikeout game of Wood’s career, and the first time he has done so in back-to-back starts. In Wood’s three May starts, he has struck out 29 of 65 batters faced (44.6%).

It was just the ninth road start by a Dodgers pitcher in their 25th year of facing the Rockies with at least six innings and allowing no runs.

Wood also helped himself at the plate, with a nifty bunt up the third base line in the second inning, a sacrifice that brought home the Dodgers’ second run.

But for the most part, the Dodgers’ offense on Saturday was driven by contributions of players who only start every so often.

Brett Eibner got the start in right field with Yasiel Puig getting a rare day off, and Eibner responded with a 465-foot home run to dead center field, his first as a Dodger:

In their two-run second inning, the Dodgers got doubles from Kiké Hernandez and Austin Barnes, making their 17th and 10th starts of the season, respectively. Hernandez is having a Schimpfian season with 13 extra-base hits and only two singles; his double was his 10th of the season, in just 72 plate appearances.

Franklin Gutierrez was signed to hit lefties, and he did just that on Saturday with a double against Tyler Anderson, beaten by the Dodgers for the third time in three starts this season.

Since returning from the disabled list, Gutierrez is 4-for-10 with a home run, a double, and two walks.

Notes

• Saturday was just the seventh time the Dodgers have shut out the Rockies on the road, in their 206 games in Denver. The last was on July 4, 2014.
• The Dodgers have 18 extra-base hits (13 doubles, three home runs, two triples) in three games in this series, their most in a three-game stretch since compiling 20 extra-base hits last Aug. 7-9 against Boston and Philadelphia.
• Though not in a save situation, Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning for a second straight night with a four-run lead. He struck out three on Saturday, and on the season has 28 strikeouts and no walks, in 14⅔ innings. It surpasses his 2015 season, when he had 27 strikeouts to start the season before issuing a walk.
• The Dodgers have won 12 of their last 15 games.

Up next

The Dodgers go for not only a series win on Sunday afternoon, a 12:10 p.m. PT start, but also could leave town in first place if things go their way. Julio Urias starts for the Dodgers, facing Antonio Senzatela for the Rockies.

Saturday particulars

Home run: Brett Eibner (1)

WP - Alex Wood (4-0): 6 IP, 5 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts

LP - Tyler Anderson (2-4): 5⅔ IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts