Cuddyer homers, drives in three as Rox top Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- Michael Cuddyer provided the offense, Jhoulys Chacin added to Colorado's string of strong pitching performances and the Rockies defeated the Dodgers, 3-1, on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

While the 10-game road trip, in which the Rockies went 4-6, may not have gone exactly as planned, they finished the first half with a four-game series split against the Dodgers and a starting rotation that has found a rhythm.

"I think we played an outstanding series," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We played lights out, we held the Dodgers to two runs in the last three games. That's a team offensively that's going better than anybody in all the game. Big win today and a nice series, nice way to end the first half."

On Friday, Juan Nicasio threw seven shutout innings. On Saturday, Tyler Chatwood allowed one run in an eight-inning complete game, and on Sunday, Chacin was just as effective.

"It's a big step for our young guys," Weiss said. "Guys like Chacin, Chatwood and Nicasio the other night taking a big step. If those guys keep progressing, it's going to be a big lift for us in the second half."

Chacin recorded a quality start for the fifth time in his past six starts as the right-hander scattered six hits across six innings, allowing just one run.

The Dodgers threatened to score more in the sixth inning, but Chacin was able to maintain his composure and get out of the jam.

After a walk to Andre Ethier and a single by Scott Van Slyke, the Dodgers had two on and one out. The crowd was beginning to generate some noise, but Weiss made a visit to the mound and gave Chacin the confidence he needed to finish the inning with the lead intact.

"Walt just came to me and said, 'That's your game. If you want to win this game, you get out of it,'" Chacin said. "That gave me a lot of confidence and I liked that. I made my pitch, that's all it is."

Following Weiss' mound visit, Chacin struck out Jerry Hairston Jr. and got Yasiel Puig to fly out.

As Chacin was limiting the Dodgers' bats, Cuddyer, who is headed to New York for his second All-Star Game and Monday's Home Run Derby, was providing the run support.

A day after getting shut out by Zack Greinke, the Rockies wasted no time as they scratched across a run in the first.

Dexter Fowler -- who finished the game 2-for-5 -- led off with a double and scored three batters later on Cuddyer's RBI single.

Cuddyer continued to have success against Dodgers starter Ricky Nolasco, as he gave the Rockies a 3-0 lead in the fifth.

Batting with two outs and Carlos Gonzalez on second, Cuddyer took a 1-0 pitch from Nolasco and deposited it into the right-field seats for his 16th home run of the season.

"When it came out, I was hoping he didn't swing," Nolasco said. "When you get that feeling and you throw a spinner like that, they usually don't come back. He's a good hitter and he did a great job of not trying to pull it and going with it. I'd like to have it back, but at the same time, this is the big leagues and good hitters are going to do that."

Nolasco -- pitching for the home team at Dodger Stadium for the first time since he was acquired last week -- lasted just five innings and allowed three runs on eight hits.

The Dodgers' lone run came in the fifth when Puig, pinch-hitting for Nolasco, singled and scored on a single by Adrian Gonzalez.