DENVER
The Colorado Rockies were done in yet again by their pitching.
The majors’ top-hitting team had shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Charlie Blackmon named to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, but the Rockies’ couldn’t keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense in an 8-2 loss.
Yohan Flande (0-2), making his third big league start since being promoted as a fill-in for Colorado’s injury-ravaged rotation, failed to get through the fifth inning. He pitched well until things came apart in the fifth, when the Dodgers struck for five runs on four hits, including a two-run single by Adrian Gonzalez and an RBI single by Matt Kemp, who finished with four hits on the day.
“Until that point, he had been pretty much cruising,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “He was throwing the ball well and then he ran into trouble.”
It was sixth loss in seven games for the Rockies, who have gone 3-17 since completing a sweep at San Francisco on June 15.
“We’ve really struggled,” Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau said. “It’s been tough. We’re still trying to stay positive, knowing anything can happen and that this team is still capable of going on a run.”
Josh Beckett (6-5) allowed three hits in five scoreless innings.
Juan Uribe added three hits for the Dodgers, who won three of four in the weekend series. They head to Detroit in first place in the NL West, a half-game ahead of San Francisco.
Tulowitzki, an All-Star starter with an NL-best 5.3 million votes, provided the few bright spots by scoring both of Colorado’s runs. Outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who made the Rockies out of spring training for the first time in his career, also capped a strong first half with his first All-Star game berth as a reserve.
“To be just a few months down the road I could’ve easily not made the team and here we are talking about the All Star game,” Blackmon said. “It’s just a blessing. I’m really amazed at what’s happened.”
Dodgers starters had gone 39 consecutive games in which they issued two or fewer walks, but Beckett walked three to end the streak. Hyun-Jin Ryu was the last Los Angeles starter to walk more than two, issuing five on May 26.
Beckett atoned with a one-out double that started a five-run fifth. Dee Gordon singled and Yasiel Puig, voted in as an NL All-Star starter, walked to load the bases.
Gonzalez hit a two-run single, Kemp followed with an RBI single and Scott Van Slyke walked.
Uribe singled to third off reliever Brooks Brown, scoring Gonzalez on a play at the plate. Umpire Jeff Kellogg called Gonzalez out but it was overturned after a 1-minute, 28-second review.
Brown hit Miguel Rojas to score Kemp and make it 5-0.
The Rockies scored an unearned run in the sixth off reliever Chris Perez and another off Brian Wilson in the eighth.
Rockies rumpus
Miguel Rojas left the game with a right forearm bruise. X-rays were negative. ... The Dodgers placed INF Erisbel Arruebarrena on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip flexor strain and recalled infielder Carlos Triunfel from Triple-A Albuquerque. ... The Rockies placed RHP Nick Masset on the 15-day DL with a left patellar tendon strain and recalled Brooks Brown from Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez (left middle finger surgery) will go on a rehab assignment starting Monday.
