DENVER – The Colorado Rockies knocked around Clayton Kershaw but failed to stop their losing streak on a chilly Sunday afternoon.
After 4 inches of snow were cleared from Coors Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers used Justin Turner’s tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning to send the Colorado Rockies to their ninth consecutive loss, 9-5.
“I’m sitting in my chair here and trying to think of one positive thing and there are not many,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “It’s tough, but what are you going to do?”
The grounds crew spent the morning shoveling the outfield following an overnight storm. The snow was removed from the stadium in small bulldozers.
The series finale began on time after the first two games were affected by the wet weather that has socked Colorado for a week. The gametime temperature was 41 degrees and it dropped to 39 degrees in the ninth.
The weather may improve but Colorado’s prospects of turning around the season look tough after dropping to 0-7 in the month of May.
Turner’s two-run homer highlighted a four-run burst in the eighth and continued the Rockies’ woes. They have lost 15 of 19 after beginning the season 7-2.
“It’s frustrating. It’s tough. It’s not something we expected to go through,” third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “Honestly, good teams don’t go through this. We need to find a way to get out of it. I believe we’re a good team but right now we’re not playing at a high level.”
Adrian Gonzalez hit two doubles and drove in four runs as the Dodgers beat Colorado for the eighth consecutive time dating to last season.
Kershaw failed in his fourth bid for his 100th regular-season win. The reigning NL MVP and Cy Young winner gave up five runs on eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
“He’s the best pitcher in the world and we got a lot of lucky hits,” Tulowitzki said. “We’ve got to capitalize on that and unfortunately we didn’t.”
It was 5-all in the eighth when Turner reached down to send a curveball from Scott Oberg (1-1) into the Rockies’ bullpen for his fifth homer of the season.
Howie Kendrick hit an RBI single and Gonzalez had a sacrifice fly later in the inning. Pedro Baez (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win.
The Dodgers led 2-0 when Colorado scored five times in the fourth against Kershaw. That was the biggest inning against him since Arizona scored seven last May 17.
Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa walked the bases loaded to start the fifth before allowing Gonzalez’s three-run double down the right-field line that tied the game.
De La Rosa allowed five runs on five hits and walked six in four-plus innings. Rockies pitchers combined to walk 10 batters.
“Lost command in the fifth. That was it,” manager Walt Weiss said of De La Rosa.
On the bright side for the Rockies, LaTroy Hawkins has started throwing and could be sent on a rehab assignment soon. Hawkins, who went on the 15-day disabled list April 22 with biceps tendinitis, threw off the mound Sunday. “Everything went well and we’ll see how he shows up (Monday) and we’ll go from there,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s progressing well. We’re getting close to him pitching in some capacity.”
Kyle Kendrick (1-4) opens Colorado’s series at the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Kendrick was impressive in beating Milwaukee on opening day but has struggled mightily since. He brings an 8.37 earned-run average into Anaheim.
