(Sports Network) – Just when Ubaldo Jimenez seemed back to his normal self,
the Colorado Rockies ace fell back into the loss column.

A 19-game winner a year ago, Jimenez gets the nod today in the finale of a
four-game series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers from Coors Field. Jimenez
began the season 0-5 in his first nine starts before tossing a four-hit
shutout on June 1 in a 3-0 win at Los Angeles.

Jimenez, who was 12-1 at this time a season ago, plummeted back into the loss
column in Tuesday’s 2-0 setback at San Diego in which he was reached for a
pair of runs and six hits in seven frames. He did have a season high eight
strikeouts, however. The righty is 7-6 with a 4.59 ERA in 17 career games (16
starts) against the Dodgers.

The Rockies were aiming for their fifth straight win at home over the Dodgers
and staged a furious rally that was stopped by LA outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.,
who ended the game on a diving catch with the bases loaded in an 11-7 triumph.
Trailing by a 7-1 score in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rockies posted
a five-spot behind a two-run single by red-hot shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who
has 10 runs batted in over his last four games.

Jason Giambi and Tulowitzki later scored on a fielding error by Dodgers
slugging outfielder Matt Kemp and Charlie Blackmon singled home a run.
Blackmon was then up with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the
ninth inning, but lined out to a diving Gwynn to end the rally.

“I thought it was down,” said Blackmon. “I feel like everybody else thought it
was down, and then he caught it. That was a really nice play, and I’m
impressed.”

Ty Wigginton homered and had two RBI for Colorado, which had won three
straight and six of nine games beforehand. Starting pitcher Jason Hammel was
not only battling the Dodgers, but a stiff back was bothering him on the
mound. He allowed three runs — two earned — in five innings to fall to 3-6.

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton had the day off and is riding a five-game
hitting streak. Helton is batting .407 in June and owns four RBI, six runs and
five walks in his last three games. Colorado is 2-1 on a 10-game homestand
versus the Dodgers, Padres and Tigers.

Los Angeles will put the finishing touches on a 10-game road trip today and
ended a three-game slide with Saturday’s hard-fought win in Denver. Gwynn’s
catch in the bottom of the ninth saved the day and took the Dodgers’ bullpen
off the hook. Ted Lilly earned the win with five innings of one-run ball, but
almost lost out on the victory after the bullpen allowed six earned runs.

Scott Elbert surrendered three runs, Matt Guerrier was reached for two and
Javy Guerra allowed a run in the ninth. Jamey Carroll and Aaron Miles both had
four hits and two RBI to lead the offense, while Casey Blake plated three runs
with a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning.

“That’s Denver for you right there,” Carroll said of the atmosphere. “Nothing
is easy, nothing is ever safe. The last two days showed that completely.”

Kemp drove in a run and also scored, and is batting .485 with six homers, nine
runs and 15 RBI during the 10-game road trip which concludes today. The
Dodgers are 4-5 so far on the road swing and will return home tonight for a
lengthy 12-game residency versus the Reds, Astros, Tigers and Angels.

Dodgers rookie Rubby De La Rosa gets the nod today in search of his third win
of his career and is 2-0 with a 1.80 earned run average in four games (one
start). He made the first start of his career in Tuesday’s 6-2 win at
Philadelphia and held the NL East-leading Phillies to one run on four hits and
five walks over five innings.

The right-hander is currently replacing Jon Garland in the rotation.

“He may have been jacked up, but he doesn’t get rattled or flustered. Maybe a
little nervous,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “A packed house, and the
Phillies got a lot of names and you know who all the guys are. But you get
over that.”

De La Rosa threw two scoreless innings of relief in an 8-2 win versus Colorado
on May 31 from Dodger Stadium.

Colorado has taken five of the eight games against Los Angeles this season and
had won the last four matchups at Coors Field. The Rockies are 4 1/2 games off
the NL West lead, while LA sits 6 1/2 games behind.

The Sports Network

DENVER (AP) — Pinch-hitter Casey Blake broke a tie with a three-run double in the sixth, Ted Lilly pitched five effective innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a three-game skid with an 11-7 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll each had four hits as the Dodgers banged out a season-high 18. With the bases loaded, Tony Gwynn Jr. made a diving catch in left field for the final out — the second time he has done that this season.

Lilly (5-5) was his typically solid self, scattering four hits before being lifted for Blake, who didn’t start because of a sore neck.

The Dodgers’ bullpen nearly squandered a late six-run lead, much like the Rockies the night before.

Colorado scored five times in the eighth and had a chance for even more but shortstop Dee Gordon made a diving stop up the middle to record a forceout at second and reliever Matt Guerrier then struck out Jonathan Herrera to contain the threat.

Los Angeles then added four runs in the ninth, with Rod Barajas hitting an RBI double, Gwynn bringing in a run on a fielder’s choice and Carroll lacing a two-run single to center.

Javy Guerra pitched a rocky ninth in a non-save situation, giving up an RBI single to Ty Wigginton. Recent call-up Charlie Blackmon sent a tailing liner to left, only to have Gwynn make a diving catch to end the game.

This late rally came a night after the Rockies seemingly had things in hand with a 6-0 lead, only to watch the Dodgers score five times in the ninth before their rally fell short.

Jason Hammel (3-6) was cruising along until the sixth, when his lower back began to stiffen up. After his second walk of the inning, Rockies manager Jim Tracy and trainer Keith Dugger came out to check on the righty, who then headed for the clubhouse.

Hammel gave up seven hits and three runs — two earned — before exiting. He’s still searching for his first win since April 30.

Matt Kemp had an RBI double in his return to the Los Angeles lineup after sitting out the day before because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Even with a 1-for-4 performance Saturday, Kemp is hitting .432 in June with a league-best 15 RBIs.

Miles was in the middle of all three big innings for the Dodgers. He drew a walk in the sixth ahead of Blake’s bases-clearing shot to left, delivered a two-run double in the seventh to give the Dodgers some breathing room and then singled in the ninth during their four-run burst.

In the Colorado eighth, Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run single. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Seth Smith lined a single up the middle that Kemp misplayed, allowing two more runs to score. Blackmon added an RBI single, but the Rockies got no closer.

Lilly improved to 7-2 in 10 starts against Colorado. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fifth by getting Eric Young Jr. and Jason Giambi to fly out.

The Dodgers took advantage of a rare throwing error by Tulowitzki in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1 apiece. After Carroll reached on a single, Andre Ethier hit a roller to Giambi, who threw to Tulowitzki at second. But on the relay back to first to complete the double play, Carroll slid hard into Tulowitzki, causing the smooth-fielding shortstop to throw the ball out of play.

Kemp then followed with a run-scoring double off the wall in right.

Wigginton put the Rockies on the board in the second by lining a fastball from Lilly halfway up the bleachers in left field. It was Wigginton’s first homer since May 31, when he took Lilly deep in Los Angeles.

NOTES: Lilly had his first hit of the season, a slap single to left in the third, followed by the third stolen base of his career. … Tracy said before the game that RHP Jhoulys Chacin deserves All-Star consideration. He’s 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA and is holding hitters to a .199 average, the second-best mark in the NL. … Rockies 1B Todd Helton was given a day off to keep him fresh. He’s third among first baseman with a .322 average this season.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

DENVER – Pinch-hitter Casey Blake broke a tie with a three-run double in the sixth, Ted Lilly pitched five effective innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a three-game skid with an 11-7 win over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Aaron Miles and Jamey Carroll each had four hits as the Dodgers banged out a season-high 18. With the bases loaded, Tony Gwynn Jr. made a diving catch in left field for the final out — the second time he has done that this season.

Lilly (5-5) was his typically solid self, scattering four hits before being lifted for Blake, who didn’t start because of a sore neck.

The Dodgers’ bullpen nearly squandered a late six-run lead, much like the Rockies the night before.

Colorado scored five times in the eighth and had a chance for even more but shortstop Dee Gordon made a diving stop up the middle to record a forceout at second and reliever Matt Guerrier then struck out Jonathan Herrera to contain the threat.

Los Angeles then added four runs in the ninth, with Rod Barajas hitting an RBI double, Gwynn bringing in a run on a fielder’s choice and Carroll lacing a two-run single to center.

Javy Guerra pitched a rocky ninth in a non-save situation, giving up an RBI single to Ty Wigginton. Recent call-up Charlie Blackmon sent a tailing liner to left, only to have Gwynn make a diving catch to end the game.

This late rally came a night after the Rockies seemingly had things in hand with a 6-0 lead, only to watch the Dodgers score five times in the ninth before their rally fell short.

Jason Hammel (3-6) was cruising along until the sixth, when his lower back began to stiffen up. After his second walk of the inning, Rockies manager Jim Tracy and trainer Keith Dugger came out to check on the righty, who then headed for the clubhouse.

Hammel gave up seven hits and three runs — two earned — before exiting. He’s still searching for his first win since April 30.

Matt Kemp had an RBI double in his return to the Los Angeles lineup after sitting out the day before because of tightness in his left hamstring.

Even with a 1-for-4 performance Saturday, Kemp is hitting .432 in June with a league-best 15 RBIs.

Miles was in the middle of all three big innings for the Dodgers. He drew a walk in the sixth ahead of Blake’s bases-clearing shot to left, delivered a two-run double in the seventh to give the Dodgers some breathing room and then singled in the ninth during their four-run burst.

In the Colorado eighth, Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run single. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Seth Smith lined a single up the middle that Kemp misplayed, allowing two more runs to score. Blackmon added an RBI single, but the Rockies got no closer.

Lilly improved to 7-2 in 10 starts against Colorado. He worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fifth by getting Eric Young Jr. and Jason Giambi to fly out.

The Dodgers took advantage of a rare throwing error by Tulowitzki in the fifth inning to tie the game at 1 apiece. After Carroll reached on a single, Andre Ethier hit a roller to Giambi, who threw to Tulowitzki at second. But on the relay back to first to complete the double play, Carroll slid hard into Tulowitzki, causing the smooth-fielding shortstop to throw the ball out of play.

Kemp then followed with a run-scoring double off the wall in right.

Wigginton put the Rockies on the board in the second by lining a fastball from Lilly halfway up the bleachers in left field. It was Wigginton’s first homer since May 31, when he took Lilly deep in Los Angeles.

NOTES: Lilly had his first hit of the season, a slap single to left in the third, followed by the third stolen base of his career. … Tracy said before the game that RHP Jhoulys Chacin deserves All-Star consideration. He’s 7-4 with a 2.90 ERA and is holding hitters to a .199 average, the second-best mark in the NL. … Rockies 1B Todd Helton was given a day off to keep him fresh. He’s third among first baseman with a .322 average this season.

Read More: Troy Tulowitzki (SS – COL), Jason Hammel (P – COL), Matt Reynolds (P – COL), Charlie Blackmon (CF – COL), Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

All winning streaks need to come to an end, and the Colorado Rockies’ three-game streak stopped with an 11-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night. The Rockies had been able to bring the game to 7-6 at the end of eight innings, but the bullpen failed to keep the game close.

The wheels started to become undone in the sixth inning when Jason Hammel left the game with lower back stiffness. The game tied at one, Matt Reynolds came in with two runners on (both walked by Hammel). Tony Gwynn loaded the bases when he reached on a bunt single. Then Casey Blake came in as a pinch-hitter for Ted Lilly and hit a bases-clearing triple to put the Dodgers up, 4-1. Aaron Miles drove in two more in the seventh and then scored on a Marcus Thames single for a 7-1 lead.

Ty Wigginton hit a home run off of Ted Lilly in the second inning, the only run the pitcher allowed in five innings. The Rockies struck against the Dodger’s bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. The bases were loaded after a Carlos Gonzalez double, an Eric Young Jr. infield single and a Jason Giambi walk. Troy Tulowitzki then plated two on a single. Seth Smith pinch-hit for Clayton Mortensen and hit a single to center field. Matt Kemp misplayed the ball, letting it get behind him, and saw Giambi and Tulowitzki score. Charlie Blackmon singled in a run for his first RBI and his first multi-hit game. The score was in favor of the Dodgers by just one run, 7-6.

After Matt Lindstrom allowed three more runs in the top of the ninth, Charlie Blackmon had a chance to be the hero in the bottom of the ninth. With one run in, two outs recorded and the bases loaded, Blackmon smacked a ball to left field that would have cleared the bases. However, Tony Gwynn made the diving catch to finish the game 11-7 in favor of the Dodgers.

The Rockies (31-33, 15-16 home) conclude this series on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. MT. Ubaldo Jimenez and Rubby De La Rosa are on the mound.

For more on the Rockies, Purple Row is your destination. For the Dodgers, visit True Blue LA and SB Nation Los Angeles.

Read More: Jason Hammel (P – COL), Ted Lilly (P – LOS), Matt Kemp (CF – LOS), Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers

Friday night’s 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers was too close for comfort for the Colorado Rockies. They entered the top of the ninth inning with a 6-0 lead and saw Matt Belisle and Huston Street, but mostly the former, teeter on the edge of collapse. Making everyone sweat, Street was able to get Trent Oeltjen to strike out looking to end the game.

Jason Hammel takes the mound against the Dodgers on Saturday night in hopes to right the wrong he performed in Los Angeles on Memorial Day. He gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings. That was also the game where the Rockies had one run on 14 hits, so nothing was going right for the team then. He did bounce back with seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball against the Giants on June 5, but the offense scored one run in the 2-1 loss.

Ted Lilly also kept the Rockies down during their series in Los Angeles last week. Lilly started the second game and struck out eight in seven innings. He allowed two runs on four hits to pick up his fourth win. He lost his next start, which came against the Phillies, but that was a 3-1 loss. Lack of run support, just as it was for Hammel, was Lilly’s undoing.

Matt Kemp entered Friday’s contest as a pinch-hitter in the top of the ninth and his home run (the longest by a Dodgers batter this season) started the Dodgers’ ultimately failed comeback attempt. Will he be able to have more of an impact in this game?

First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. MT.  Watch ROOT Sports for live action then.

For more on the Rockies, Purple Row is your destination. For the Dodgers, visit True Blue LA and SB Nation Los Angeles.

DENVER — Chad Billingsley couldn’t survive another hitting barrage by Colorado.

The Rockies tagged the right-hander for a career-high 13 hits, seven in the fifth inning, in a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Billingsley beat the Rockies 7-1 on May 30 despite giving up 11 hits, but it was a different story at Coors Field.

“I felt good today, I just made some mistakes in the middle of the plate,” Billingsley said.

Billingsley (5-5) pitched out of jams in each of the first four innings, with his only blemish Troy Tulowitzki’s leadoff homer in the second.

He couldn’t escape the fifth.

After retiring counterpart Jhoulys Chacin to start the inning, the Rockies knocked out six straight singles and seven overall in a five-run outburst. Todd Helton and Seth Smith drove in two runs each, and the Dodgers helped fuel the rally with two errors.

Billingsley left after Chris Iannetta knocked in the final run of the inning.

“They kept getting hits. It’s one of those things,” he said. “I left a couple of pitches over the plate (and) you can’t do that here. You’re not going to have too much success that way.”

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly agreed.

“More than anything he didn’t get the pitches where he wanted,” he said. “When I took him out he said he left a lot of balls over the plate. Too much plate.”

Billingsley fell to 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in three starts against Colorado this season. He has dropped both of his starts at Coors Field while allowing 11 runs, but he didn’t think the Rockies hit him hard Friday night.

“They had 10 singles,” he said.

The Dodgers, who blew a four-run lead in the series opener Thursday, nearly turned the tables on Colorado after trailing 6-0 heading into the ninth. Matt Kemp was scratched because of tightness in his left hamstring, but he battled Matt Belisle in an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with his NL-best 19th homer.

James Loney singled, and after Juan Uribe flied out, Dioner Navarro reached on an error and Tony Gwynn doubled down the left-field line to make it 6-2. Closer Huston Street came on and gave up a two-run single to Aaron Miles and an RBI single to Dee Gordon before striking out Trent Oeltjen to end the game.

Kemp, who has the longest active games-played streak in the majors at 269, said he felt his hamstring tighten up when he hit a double Thursday night. He went through batting practice Friday but after trying to give it a go he told Mattingly he couldn’t play.

“I did everything I could up until batting practice was over,” Kemp said. “I thought maybe I should back off a little. I’ve never had a hamstring injury so I knew it wasn’t normal.”

Kemp said he wanted to keep his streak alive but felt it was better to sit down rather than risk further injury.

“When I play center field I’ve got to try to get those balls,” he said. “I’m trying to play every game of my career. I never want to sit out a game.”

Chacin (7-4) struck out nine in eight innings, yielding three hits and three walks.

NOTES: Oeltjen replaced Kemp in the lineup and played LF with Gwynn moving to CF.