Dan Haren made the start at Coors Field in the second game of a three game stint with the Rockies, coming into the game having won his last three starts. Haren was roughed up a little bit through five innings, giving up four hits that led to five runs. Haren gave up a two run home in the fourth inning, leaving the game with his ERA a shade above four. Haren walked one through five innings, and was tacked with the loss. Hanley Ramirez, who was scratched from the initial lineup with a reported elbow strain, pinch hit for Haren in the sixth with one out and one out, but struck out swinging. Scott Elbert entered the game in relief, surrendering a run before being replaced by Brandon League, who also gave up one run. Daniel Coulombe made his MLB debut for the Dodgers in the seventh. Jamey Wright gave up three more runs to the Rockies in the eighth, sealing the 10-4 win for Colorado.
The Dodgers came into the game swinging scorching hot bats, having scored 32 runs in their last 24 innings while riding a three game winning streak. Unfortunately for Haren, he didn’t receive the run support that had become the norm over the past three games. Los Angeles had eight hits through the first five innings but hadn’t crossed home plate, stranding an eventual 10 runners on base. The Dodgers broke through for the first time in the sixth inning when Matt Kemp led off the inning with a single to right field. Scott Van Slyke followed with a single to center field to put two on for Justin Turner, who’s double drove in Kemp and Van Slyke. Juan Uribe followed with a double of his own, but Turner was tagged out at home on the relay. Dee Gordon singled following an A.J. Ellis walk to put two on with two out. Yasiel Puig struck out to end the inning after scoring two.
Los Angeles tacked on two more runs in the ninth after a Gordon single and a two run homer from Puig, who finished the 2-5 with two RBI’s. Kemp, Gordon, and Haren each had two hits to go along with the three hits from Turner. The Dodgers left 10 runners on base, going 3-14 with runners in scoring position.
Carlos Frias will step in for the injured Hyun-Jin Ryu in the starting rotation, ready to get things going and polish up for the postseason if necessary. Wednesday will be the Frias’ second career start. The Dodgers will close out the series with the Rockies in an afternoon contest and then head to Chicago for a four game stand at Wrigley Field with the Cubs.