Dodgers Sweep Past Rockies

It’s more than a month until Manny Ramirez comes back, but do you really want to sit Juan Pierre when the time does come?

Pierre had three more hits including a line single off the second baseman’s glove that drove in a run in the seventh inning and sparked a five run rally that gave the Dodgers an 8-6 win that gives the Dodgers a sweep of Colorado — the first sweep of the Rockies by anyone this season.

After the Pierre single came a Mark Loretta single that drove in Juan Castro, followed by walk to Orlando Hudson that loaded the bases. Then James Loney doubled to deep right center clearing the bases, and the Dodgers were ahead 7-3 and looked like they were cruising to another win. This was the ninth inning this season where the Dodgers have scored five or more runs.

But things got interesting in the bottom of the ninth. First Ryan Spilborghs singled (he already had a home run in the game), followed by an RBI triple from Seth Smith. Then Joe Torre got serious and brought in Jonathon Broxton to shut the game down. And he gave up a double to Paul Phillips then two consecutive walks.

Then Broxton got the second out of the inning striking out Long Beach State alumni Troy Tulowitzki in an eight-pitch at bat. However, next up was Todd Helton and he drew a walk to make it 8-6 with the bases loaded.

That was when pinch hitter Brad Hawpe grounded out meekly to end the game.

Clayton Kershaw picked up the win in a battling outing where he as not sharp but ended up allowing three runs in six innings of work. Kershaw is now 3-3 on the season with a 4.34 ERA.