Dodgers push winning streak to four with 3-2 win over Rockies
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It’s their one-two punch, the best the Dodgers have to offer. Clayton Kershaw on the mound, Matt Kemp at the plate.
It worked just as the Dodgers hoped Tuesday in their 3-2 victory over the Rockies in front of an announced crowd of 50,664 on Fernando Valenzuela bobble-head night.
It was their fourth consecutive victory and fifth in six games. It left them a half-game back of the Rockies for third in the National League West. In 2011, this is called surging.
The Dodgers scored all three runs in the fourth, thanks in large part to some curious outfield defensive play by Colorado.
Rafael Furcal led off the inning against Jhoulys Chacin with a routine fly to left-fielder Ty Wigginton.
Wigginton took a couple steps in and then casually stuck out his glove to his left to try to make a one-handed catch. And then dropped it. When exactly did coaches give up trying to make outfielders catch a fly with two hands?
Furcal ended up at second, Wigginton with a red face. After Chacin walked Andre Ethier, Kemp broke open the scoreless game with a two-run double.
One out later with Kemp at third, Juan Rivera lifted a high pop-up that second baseman Mark Ellis went back on and right-fielder Ryan Spilborghs charged in on. Everybody watching could see this coming.
At the last moment Ellis called for it, but Spilborghs ducked and rolled right into Ellis, taking his feet out from under him. Ellis hung on to the ball, but by the time he got to his feet a smiling Kemp had tagged and easily scored what would prove to be the winning run.
Kershaw pushed his scoreless-innings streak to 27 2/3 innings before the Rockies pushed a run across in the fifth with a trio of two-out singles. Todd Helton’s base hit scored Dexter Fowler to end the scoreless streak.
Colorado added one more in the seventh after pinch-hitter Eric Young Jr. beat out an infield hit and Dexter Fowler singled him to third. Young scored on a groundout.
Matt Guerrier got the inning’s final out.
Kershaw (12-4) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing the two runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out six to push his major-league leading total to 173.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second save. Rookie closer Javy Guerra had pitched the last three consecutive days.
The Rockies dropped their fourth consecutive game.
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