Chacin and Pair of Rockies Homers Shut Out Dodgers

Dodgers 0 5 0
Rockies 3 6 0
WP-Chacin (1-0)
LP- Kershaw (1-1)
S-Street (2)
HR- Tulowitzki (1), Iannetta (1)

The Dodgers couldn't manage to get a runner past third base, and were shut out by the Rockies in their first meeting of the year. Joulhys Chacin has pitched well against the Dodgers in the past, and tonight he went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 walks both to Ethier including one intentionally, and 4 strikeouts. The Rockies also used Rafael Betancourt for one inning and their closer Huston Street pitched in the 9th to get the save.

This short two game series started off with the Dodgers getting a few singles in the top innings from Ethier, Loney, and Big Rod and a double from Gwynn in the third. Yet they couldn't string multiple hits together off of Chacin who was changing speeds well throughout the night. Kershaw pitched well, but in the fourth inning striking out the side could not erase the homerun he gave up to Tulowitzki making it a 1-0 game in favor of the Rockies.

In the fifth the Dodgers stalled once again after Carroll singled up the center, Kershaw nicely bunted him over, Frucal grounds out allowing Carroll to reach third, but then the pesky Wigginton made a good play when he throws out Gwynn's grounder to third ending the inning. Gwynn gets Wiggy back in the bottom of the inning when he sends a ball over Gwynn's head in left field. Gwynn makes an amazing play, definately the play of the night, by barehanding the ball off its bounce and throwing out Wigginton with plenty of time at second. Give this guy the starting job in left! But alas Kershaw then allows his second homer of the night to Iannetta making it 2-0 Rockies.

The sixth inning would be Kershaw's last. Fowler doubles to lead off, Spillborghs strikes out for the third time of the night, Cargo grounds out allowing Fowler to advance to third, Tulo is intentionally walked, and then Lopez annoyingly singles in the run giving the Rockies a 3-0 lead.

Kershaw pitched 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, walking 1, and striking out 8.

The Dodgers bullpen pitched the last 2 innings and managed to keep the Rockies at bay. McDougal pitched the 7th, and Hawksworth the 8th. It didn't matter really, since the Dodgers were not about to score.

It looks like Ivan De Jesus has been called down in order to make a space for Casey Blake to return from the disabled list. He should be back at third base, and Uribe will be at second with Carroll on the bench. Jon Garland is also making progress and he could be ready to make a start as early as April 15th. Padilla is recovering but scaling back his practice sessions due to some soreness in his elbow. Padilla could be a back-up closer if Broxton needed a day off. Jay Gibbons is progressing with his new contact lenses as well.

The Dodgers need to create some offense somehow, since the Rockies' defense is much better than the Giants so they won't be getting any lucky breaks like last series. We have one more game in Colorado tomorrow at 12:10 on Primeticket with Billingsley on the mound before they head to San Diego. Go Blue!!