Rockies end 7-game skid with 10-4 win over Dodgers

MICHAEL KELLY
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — The runs have been scarce lately for the Colorado Rockies. They made up for it in a big way to stop the surging Los Angeles Dodgers.

Corey Dickerson homered, tripled and drove in four runs, Tyler Matzek pitched into the sixth inning by getting out of several tight spots, and the Rockies snapped a seven-game skid with a 10-4 win over the NL West-leading Dodgers on Tuesday night.

The Rockies scored just 11 runs during their losing streak and nearly matched that total in eight innings against Los Angeles in support of Matzek.

“He’s been really battling his last couple of starts, doing a really good job,” Dickerson said. “We felt like we needed to get some runs to support him. I think everybody fed off him.”

The Dodgers had Matzek (6-10) on the ropes, but couldn’t produce the timely hit. They stranded 10 runners to drop 1 1-2 games behind Washington for the best record in the National League.

Matzek allowed two runs and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings. He also had six strikeouts, including Juan Uribe twice to end threats.

“The first three innings I was able to get the guys out early. The last three innings the leadoff guy getting on three times in a row,” Matzek said. “You know you’re in for a longer inning. Just have to bear down and get that leadoff guy.”

Dan Haren (13-11) had a more productive evening at the plate than on the mound, where he struggled to find his rhythm and allowed five runs in five innings.

Dickerson hit a towering two-run homer in the fourth. He added a two-run triple in the eighth, and the Rockies scored as many runs Tuesday as in their previous six games combined.

“I didn’t know if it was going to get out or not,” Dickerson said of his team-leading 23rd home run. “I squared it up pretty good but it went straight up. I hit it pretty high, but luckily it got out.”

Trailing 5-0 in the sixth, the Dodgers got something going when Justin Turner lined a two-run double to center. Uribe followed with another double over the head of Drew Stubbs in center, but Turner was thrown out trying to score on a strong relay from shortstop Josh Rutledge.

“Big relay. One of the better ones I’ve seen,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “Stubby getting the ball to Rut, and Rut makes a heck of a throw. (Catcher Mike) McKenry makes a great play on the other end of that play.”

After walking A.J. Ellis, Matzek was pulled for reliever Tommy Kahnle, who struck out pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez. Kahnle then surrendered an infield single to Dee Gordon to load the bases and set the stage for Yasiel Puig.

The slugger looked at a 96-mph fastball for a third strike. Puig threw his hands into the air in exasperation, while Kahnle did a subtle fist pump.

“That was big time, that sequence by Kahnle with the game in the balance,” Weiss said.

Los Angeles couldn’t string anything together against Matzek, who escaped trouble in the third by striking out Gonzalez with two runners on base.

The lefty found himself in a mess in the fourth after allowing back-to-back singles to Matt Kemp and Scott Van Slyke. But he got Turner to hit into a double play and struck out Uribe on a slider in the dirt.

LONG BALL

The Rockies have the worst record in the NL but their offense won’t get the blame. Dickerson’s homer was the team’s 170th of the season, the most in the NL.

MORNEAU STILL CHASING

Colorado 1B Justin Morneau continues to battle for the NL batting title. The 2006 AL MVP had two hits and an RBI to raise his average to .316. He trails Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison by a percentage point. Harrison went 1 for 4 in the Pirates’ win over Boston on Tuesday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado will be sidelined indefinitely because of a bruised chest and pneumonia. He was hurt diving for a ball during a game in New York against the Mets last week.

UP NEXT

Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa is 9-2 with a 3.30 ERA at Coors Field this season.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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