Los Angeles

Dodgers Rout Rockies 7-0; Complete Second Straight Sweep

Brandon McCarthy was masterful on the mound and LA hit three homers in a 7-0 rout of the Rockies to complete their second straight sweep.

Much like the female fans that flock to Chavez Ravine for day games, Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy had an affinity for the “long ball.” Through his first two starts, McCarthy allowed six home runs to opposing hitters. Thankfully, the Los Angeles native bucked that trend on Sunday and the Dodgers routed the Colorado Rockies 7-0.

McCarthy (2-0) was masterful on the afternoon spinning a three-hit shutout with six strikeouts. It was “Big Mac’s” first win against the Rockies in five career starts.

“I gave up less home runs,” joked McCarthy when asked about the difference between Sunday and his first two starts. “AJ [Ellis] did a great job of selecting pitches that I would have a greater chance of success on. We avoided the middle of the plate and we didn’t get punished on any pitches.”

Los Angeles completed their second straight series sweep and won its seventh consecutive game in a row. The Dodgers offense has been rolling during the streak scoring five or more runs in each game.

“We’re playing well,” McCarthy continued. “The offense is doing damage when it needs to and it’s not just one thing keeping us afloat, it’s a bunch of team performances.”

The Dodgers got on the board in the second inning with back-to-back RBI doubles by Scott Van Slyke and Joc Pederson. LA maybe could have gotten more, but Pederson was caught stealing in a bizarre rundown that he was able to Houdini out of before an umpires’ huddle called him out.

“I was safe, but unfortunately the ump said I slid out of the baseline,” said Pederson of the play. “It was a tough call, but it’s a base-running error that can’t happen, so I need to tighten it up.”

With the score still 2-0; Los Angeles switched on the power surge in the bottom half of the 6th inning. Howie Kendrick continued his hot start to the season with a 414-foot solo shot to dead center. Kendrick finished with his seventh multi-hit game of the season.

Two batters later Van Slyke made the most of his second chance after Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau dropped a routine fly ball in foul territory. Morneau was charged with an error on the play and Van Slyke returned the favor by crushing a curve ball into the left field seats for his first homer of the season. Van Slyke went 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs and has hit safely in 11 consecutive games against Colorado.

“I’ve flown out to that area of the field many times, so I assumed he was going to make the play,” said Van Slyke of his stay of execution in the sixth. “I peeked back and saw he messed up the play. Anytime you get a second chance and do something good it’s a good feeling.”

The Dodgers went back-to-back for the first time this season when Pederson followed Van Slyke with a 432-foot rocket of his own into the right field pavilion.

Rockies rookie starter Eddie Butler (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing two runs on six hits through 5 innings.

“They put some good swings on the ball,” said Butler. “They’re swinging it well right now.”

A day after making an atrocious base-running mistake that cost Adrian Gonzalez a double, Yasiel Puig was removed from the Dodgers lineup for “precautionary” reasons. A lingering left hamstring that had him out of the lineup for four games earlier in the week has hobbled Puig of late.

Gonzalez went 0 for 5 on the afternoon snapping his 13-game hitting streak and dropping his average to .469.

“I was just a little off today,” said Gonzalez. “I couldn’t cover the fastballs. Thankfully, Scotty [Van Slyke] steps in and has a great day, JT [Justin Turner] steps in and has a great day, we’re good 1 through 25.”

Justin Turner went 4 for 5 with three doubles and an RBI. It was the second time in his career he had at least four hits in a game.

Game Notes:
Record Producer and electro house DJ, Steve Aoki, performed before the game and threw out a cupcake rather than the traditional baseball for the ceremonial first pitch. The Dodgers have now won nine games in a row at home against Colorado, tied for their second longest streak against any team since 2010 (Padres – 10).
 

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