Kershaw collects 100th career win, tops Rox
LOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw recorded 10 strikeouts and earned his 100th career victory as the Dodgers held on to beat the Rockies, 6-4, on Friday night at Dodger Stadium to even a four-game series.
Kershaw, in his fifth attempt to reach the milestone win total, scattered four hits and allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings. Jimmy Rollins finished a triple shy of the cycle and Justin Turner added two RBIs to lead the offense in support of Kershaw, who has won his last seven decisions against Colorado.
"I don't know if it means a whole lot, but it's something to celebrate I guess," Kershaw said of notching career win No. 100. "Hopefully just getting started. I guess it's kind of cool."
The Rockies, who rallied in the ninth to win the series-opener Thursday, have not won consecutive games since April 22-24. Right-hander Eddie Butler struggled in his second straight start against the Dodgers and was charged with four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Three of a kind: The Dodgers gave Kershaw an early cushion with three runs on three hits in the third inning. Following a Rockies error, Turner doubled home Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez. One batter later, Andre Ethier ripped an RBI-single through the right side of the infield.
Video: COL@LAD: Ethier singles in Turner from third base
And here we go, again: Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki bounced to Kershaw in the third and seemed to pull up while running down the first-base line. Daniel Descalso replaced him for the bottom of the third, and the Rockies announced Tulowitzki -- with a long history of leg muscle injuries -- suffered from left quad tightness. He doesn't think the problem is serious, and it's not something that's been lingering. More >
"I can't even remember the last time I felt the quad," Tulowitzki said. "It's been a while. I am sore, but by tomorrow we'll see how I feel."
Video: COL@LAD: Tulo exits in 3rd with quadriceps injury
Getting the Rockies going: Descalso entered batting .086 (3 for 35), but put that behind him with a three-run double to right field off Dodgers reliever Paco Rodriguez during the Rockies' four-run seventh.The Rockies put two on in the eighth, before former Rockies right-hander Juan Nicasio struck out Nolan Arenado and Wilin Rosario for his first Major League save.
"We put together a couple good games against Kershaw -- he's the best out there," Descalso said. "We were able to get something going the seventh inning and close the gap. We could've rolled over, down 6-0, but the guys kept fighting."
Putting the "K" in Kenley: Activated from the disabled list before the game, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen pitched the eighth inning and collected four strikeouts. He got the extra punchout because Carlos Gonzalez reached on a passed ball to open the frame. It was Jansen's first appearance of the year following February foot surgery.
Video: COL@LAD: Jansen fans four in season debut
"I just go out there and try to get outs, and by doing that I felt great," Jansen said. "I just had an amazing inning. It's just a relief to be back."
QUOTABLE
"He threw the pitch I was looking for -- the right pitch I wanted, the right movement, the right spot for me to hit it. But that's baseball." -- Rosario on fouling off a hittable pitch from Nicasio for the second strike of his game-ending strikeout
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Kendrick has now reached base in 35 straight games at Dodger Stadium dating back to 2008, when he played for the Angels.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
The Rockies challenged an out call by umpire Marty Foster on a force play at second base with one out in the top of the second inning, but replay officials confirmed that Drew Stubbs was out.
Video: COL@LAD: Call confirmed in 2nd inning
WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: Lefty Jorge De La Rosa (0-2, 9.59 ERA) was handed a 5-2 lead against Kershaw and the Dodgers in his last start, but it was gone within a half-inning, and the Rockies would eventually lose. De La Rosa takes another shot at the Dodgers Saturday at 7:10 p.m. MT.
Dodgers: Zack Greinke, who is 5-0 to open the season for the second straight year, gets the ball looking to move to 6-0 for the first time since 2009, when he won the American League Cy Young Award with the Royals. Greinke has given the Dodgers a quality start in each of his seven outings this year. The right-hander is 7-2 with a lifetime 3.57 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) against the Rockies.
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