Dodgers hit 3 HRs in 6th to rout Rockies
Joe Resnick
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers are leading the NL in home runs, even without Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez.
Howie Kendrick, Scott Van Slyke and rookie Joc Pederson homered against rookie Scott Oberg in the sixth inning, and Los Angeles stretched its winning streak to seven by beating the Colorado Rockies 7-0 Sunday.
"I haven't seen the ball fly here at Dodger Stadium like the way it's done so far this year," catcher A.J. Ellis said. "Hopefully, I hope they're not talking about putting in a humidor or anything like that. We don't have to have any of that talk."
Brandon McCarthy (2-0) allowed three hits in six innings, struck out six and walked two to defeat the Rockies for the first time in five career starts.
"I made better pitches today and stayed away from the middle of the plate, for the most part," said McCarthy, who played high school ball in Colorado Springs. "A.J. just took me along with him, and we just kept attacking the hitters. But we did it without being stupid and didn't leave it in a spot where they could drive it."
Eddie Butler (1-1) allowed two runs and six hits over five innings.
Justin Turner tied a career high with four hits for the two-time defending NL West champions, who took a 2-0 lead in the second with consecutive RBI doubles by Van Slyke and Pederson en route to their ninth straight victory over the Rockies. Adrian Gonzalez was 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 13 games, but his teammates combined for 14 hits and raised the team's home run total to 17.
"On a day when our best hitter — and the best hitter in baseball right now — didn't have a single hit, we still put up seven runs and 14 hits. That's the mark of a great team," Ellis said.
Kendrick then led off the sixth with his second homer of the series before Andre Ethier walked. First baseman Justin Morneau dropped a foul pop by Van Slyke, prolonging the at-bat, and Van Slyke hit his first homer of the season.
"Van Slyke's a tough out. And if you give him an extra chance, more times than not it ends up hurting you," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
Pederson followed with a drive to right-center on an 0-2 count, extending the margin to 6-0, and Turner capped the rally with an RBI double.
Shortstop Jimmy Rollins turned a huge inning-ending double play in the top of the sixth, just nipping Troy Tulowitzki at first base after McCarthy fielded his comebacker with runners at the corners.
"Jimmy's got tons of experience in the middle of the diamond," Ellis said. "He's seen and experienced everything a guy with 16 years in the big leagues can, and you don't see him panic. It seems like Jimmy always makes the throw or makes the play to get the guy out."
Ellis, who lost his starting job with the acquisition of Yasmani Grandal from San Diego in theKemp trade, made his first start behind the plate since April 13 and threw out Charlie Blackmon trying to steal second base in the third. Blackmon appeared to have beaten the throw, but Rollins blocked his slide with his foot before applying the tag.
"Brandon gave me a great chance to throw the guy out," Ellis said. "It was a very mediocre throw, and I figured Charlie was going to be safe because he's an excellent baserunner. But Jimmy just did a great job. I kidded with him and said: 'It looks like Chase Utley finally taught you something.'"
Rockies: RHP John Axford, whose 2 1/2-year-old son Jameson was bitten on the right foot by a rattlesnake during spring training, was moved from the family emergency medical leave list to the restricted list on Sunday.
Dodgers: RF Yasiel Puig sat out for the fourth time in five games because of a sore left hamstring, which didn't get any better after he went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI double on Saturday night.
Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa is expected to be reinstated from the disabled list on Monday to make his season debut in the opener of a four-game series against San Diego at Coors Field. He was sidelined for most of spring training because of a groin injury.
Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (1-0) is scheduled to start the opener of a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday night. He is 0-2 with a 5.25 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, all at AT&T Park.