The Colorado Rockies got off to a fast start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night, but ultimately they lost, 6-4, and failed to sweep their opponent. Still, the Rockies enter the off day with a 2-1 series victory.
Eric Young Jr. set the table with a leadoff inside-the-park home run in the top of the first inning. Later in the inning, Tyler Colvin singled in Dexter Fowler, who had reached earlier on a double, for a 2-0 lead. But that advantage was quickly lost when Matt Kemp hit a three-run home run with zero outs in the bottom of the frame.
Jeff Francis (ND, 6.06 ERA) pitched four innings and surrendered just those three runs, but hitting 73 pitches through four innings forced him out of the game. D.J. LeMahieu had singled in Jordan Pacheco in the top of the fourth to assure Francis of a no-decision.
Carlos Torres (1-1, 4.38 ERA) replaced Francis in the fifth inning and promptly allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases. Hanley Ramirez then worked a walk to get put the Dodgers in the lead. It didn't get any better in the sixth inning when Shane Victorino and Mark Ellis hit back-to-back RBI singles.
In the seventh inning, the Rockies took back one of those runs when Eric Young Jr. singled to load the bases and then saw LeMahieu take advantage of a bobble by Andre Ethier in right field. Chad Billingsley (8-9, 3.84 ERA) was charged with all four runs, but the final one crossed the plate as an inherited runner to Ronald Belisario.
The Rockies (40-69, 19-32 away) open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday.
For more on these teams, check out Rockies blog Purple Row and Dodgers blog True Blue LA. Head over to Baseball Nation for more news and notes around the league.
