Dodgers Go Boom to Ring in June With Win in Colorado

With St. Louis in their rearview mirror, every Dodger starter had at least one base hit on Monday night (and even Alberto Callaspo picked up a pinch-hit in the ninth inning). There were four Dodger homeruns, lots of Clayton Kershaw dominance and some great defensive plays from the Dodger infield and outfield in the 11-4 win over Colorado. Adrian Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with a walk, Clayton Kershaw had three hits and Joc Pederson is on pace for like 45 homeruns.

Dodgers 11 18 0

Rockies 4 9 1

WP- Kershaw (4-3)

LP- Kendrick (2-7)

HR- Ethier (7), Rollins (6), Arenado (13), Pederson (14), Kendrick (5)

It was a much needed road win for the Dodgers, and the victory also helped fend off the Giants who were 1/2 game behind the Dodgers going into Monday night’s game. Dinger the dinosaur was nowhere in sight, and the Dodgers were on a rocky mountain high.

The Dodgers homerun machine was set to solo in the second inning. First, Andre Ethier hit a beautiful solo homerun over the right center field wall, and then Jimmy Rollins also hit a solo shot to the same area giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead against Kyle Kendrick. Clayton Kershaw even picked up a base hit in the inning, a single to center field.

Clayton Kershaw was in a groove, and he only allowed one hit through the first three innings (a Brandon Barnes single in the second). Everything was going smoothly until the second time around through the heart of the order in the fourth inning. The Rockies tied up the game with one Nolan Arenado swing. The amazing third baseman hit a two-run homerun off a 95-mph Kershaw fastball. Boy, that Arenado kid is sure good.

Kershaw is kind of good too…at everything. The M.V.P. hit a double over Rafael Ynoa‘s head in left field for his second hit of the night in the fifth. Kersh raised his batting average to .160. Unfortunately the Dodgers were not able to cash in the leadoff double by their pitcher, and they ended up stranding Kersh.

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Andre Ethier, still here. Dre hit a leadoff triple in the sixth, and he was just a single and a double away from a cycle. That’s Dre’s third triple of the season. The Dodgers didn’t waste the leadoff hit this time. Kiké Hernandez’s groundball RBI single found its way up the middle, and the Dodgers took a 3-2 lead. I was ready to get my rally banana out for Kiké until he was picked off second base after a Jimmy Rollins single.

Six in the sixth.

The Dodgers got a lucky break when Nolan Arenado committed an error at third base causing Wilin Rosario to come off the bag at first. A.J. reached safely, and his buddy Clayton Kershaw proceeded to come up with a career-best third hit! The RBI single brought in Rollins, and the Dodgers were up 4-2. That would be that for Kyle Kendrick. Lefty Christian Friedrich was brought in by Colorado to face Joc Pederson with two on and one out.

Joc Rox. Pederson crushed his 14th homerun of the season, a three-run bomb to center field! The onslaught continued with a walk to Justin Turner, a Gonzo single and a RBI single by Howie Kendrick. All this offense was making me quite giddy. The Dodgers matched a season-high 6 runs in the lengthy inning.

Kyle Kendrick pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed 6 runs on 10 hits with 1 strikeout and 2 walks on 94 pitches.

There was no June gloom for the Dodgers on Monday night. The offense was alive and well. Howie Kendrick took his turn in the top of the eighth with a booming three-run homerun to right center field into the bullpen area at Coors Field. The Dodgers relief pitchers gave each other high fives, and the Dodgers took a commanding 11-2 lead.

Clayton Kershaw pitches 7 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk on 93 pitches.

The Dodgers looked to David Huff to pitch a couple of innings in order to preserve the bullpen for Tuesday’s doubleheader, but he immediately allowed back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the eighth. Troy Tulowitzki picked up a RBI with a force out, and we should be glad that Huff won’t be starting for the Dodgers tomorrow. Arenado’s RBI single made it 11-3. Joc Pederson mowed down Rosario at second even though Colorado tried to challenge the out call. Rosario still got the RBI on the base hit making it 11-4.

J.P. Howell was given the ball in the ninth, and the southpaw pitched a nice 1-2-3 inning to seal the victory for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers notched their 30th win on the season, and they improved to 9-13 on the road.

Tomorrow the day-night double header will feature Juan Nicasio starting the first game and Zack Greinke is for sure slated for Game 2.