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Rockies stop a 7-game slide

Dickerson’s game at the plate lifts Matzek on the mound
Drew Stubbs and the Colorado Rockies stopped a seven-game slide with a 10-4 victory over the NL-West leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night at Coors Field in Denver. Stubbs had a hit and scored three runs in the victory.

DENVER – Try as he might, Dee Gordon couldn’t fathom how this Dodgers loss happened. After all, Los Angeles had traffic on base all night, as every player in the lineup had a hit.

“Just one of those days, I guess,” said Gordon, shaking his head. “Time to turn the page.”

Because there is no time to dwell on anything in a playoff chase.

Corey Dickerson homered, tripled and drove in four runs, Tyler Matzek pitched into the sixth inning by getting out of several tight spots, and the Colorado Rockies snapped a seven-game skid with a 10-4 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night.

The Dodgers had Matzek (6-10) on the ropes but couldn’t produce the timely hit. They stranded 10 runners to drop 1½ games behind Washington for the best record in the National League. Their lead in the NL West also was cut to three games with San Francisco’s win over Arizona.

“I felt like we had our chances,” Dodgers’ manager Don Mattingly said. “We just weren’t able to capitalize.”

Matzek allowed two runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He also had six strikeouts, including Juan Uribe twice to end threats.

Dan Haren (13-11) had a more productive evening at the plate than on the mound, where he struggled to find his rhythm and allowed five runs in five innings. Haren had two singles off Matzek, as the Dodgers outhit the Rockies 16-9. This was a rare rough outing for Haren, who entered the game 5-1 with a 1.70 earned-run average over his last seven starts.

“It was a weird game with how many hits we were getting,” Haren said. “They were able to capitalize on everything.”

Dickerson hit a towering two-run homer in the fourth. He added a two-run triple in the eighth, and the Rockies scored as many runs Tuesday as in their previous six games combined.

“Our offensive execution has been lacking, and it was real good (Tuesday night),” Rockies’ manager Walt Weiss said.

Trailing 5-0 in the sixth, the Dodgers got something going when Justin Turner lined a two-run double to center. Uribe followed with another double, but Turner was thrown out trying to score.

After walking A.J. Ellis, Matzek was pulled for reliever Tommy Kahnle, who struck out pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez. Kahnle then surrendered an infield single to Gordon to load the bases and set the stage for Yasiel Puig.

The slugger looked at a 96-mph fastball at the knees for a third strike. Puig threw his hands into the air in exasperation, while Kahnle did a subtle fist pump.

Puig, however, did connect for a two-run homer in the ninth, as he starts to heat up at the plate.

Gordon began a nifty double play in the sixth. The second baseman dived for a ball up the middle and threw it toward second in midair with his glove. Turner fielded the ball with his back to first and quickly turned to complete the play.

“I can’t explain it,” Gordon said. “The craziest play.”

Los Angeles couldn’t string anything together against Matzek, who escaped trouble time after time.

“They hit mistakes real well, so you have to put the ball in the right spots,” Matzek said. “I thought I did an OK job of that.”

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Ramirez was a late scratch with a strained right elbow. Mattingly said Ramirez’s status for Wednesday remains up in the air.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado will be sidelined indefinitely because of a bruised chest and pneumonia. He was hurt diving for a ball during a game in New York against the Mets last week.

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Dodgers right-hander Carlos Frias will start as he steps into the rotation for lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is dealing with a sore shoulder.

Rockies lefty Jorge De La Rosa is 9-2 with a 3.30 ERA at Coors Field this season. He’ll oppose Frias on the mound.

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A day after Kemp and Puig got into a heated exchange in the dugout, Mattingly refused to provide details on what the squabble was about.

Mattingly simply said, “Family business.”

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The Dodgers selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Daniel Coulombe from Double-A Chattanooga. He made his major league debut with a scoreless seventh inning.

Rockies right-handed pitcher Eddie Butler was recalled from Double-A Tulsa. He might start this weekend against Arizona.

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Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said he is taking his rehab slow after undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee.

“We still have a lot of time in front of us,” Gonzalez said. “My goal is to be ready for spring training.”

Rockies rumpus

Hanley Ramirez was a late scratch with a strained right elbow. ... Nolan Arenado will be sidelined indefinitely because of a bruised chest and pneumonia. He was hurt diving for a ball during a game in New York against the Mets last week. ... RHP Carlos Frias will start as he steps into the rotation for LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is dealing with a sore shoulder. LHP Jorge De La Rosa, 9-2 with a 3.30 ERA at Coors Field this season, will oppose Frias.

Sep 16, 2014
8-run 6th gives Rockies 7 losses in a row


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