MICHAEL KELLY
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies are trying to avoid their first 100-loss season. Giving up eight runs in one inning to the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t help their cause.
Pinch-hitter Justin Turner ignited the Dodgers’ game-turning sixth inning with a tiebreaking two-run double, and surging Los Angeles beat the Rockies 11-3 on Monday night.
It was the most runs the Dodgers have scored in an inning since Aug. 30, 2011, against San Diego.
“They got on a roll there, and we couldn’t stop them,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
The Dodgers broke out in the sixth against Christian Bergman (2-4) and two relievers. They produced seven hits, including Turner’s double to right that started the scoring spree.
Bergman was cruising until he unraveled in the sixth. He gave up six runs and nine hits, and hit Carl Crawford to start the inning.
“The big thing was hitting the leadoff hitter,” Bergman said. “Hitting him and putting him on and a couple of pitches over the middle of the plate put a couple of guys on base. Kind of snowballed after that.
“Earlier, I made a couple of mistakes but I was able to pitch around them. That inning they saw too many mistakes.”
It wasn’t the only thing that plagued Colorado.
The Rockies had several costly base-running blunders as they lost their seventh straight. Charlie Blackmon was caught in a rundown when he tried to score on a grounder in the first. The next inning, Bergman missed on a squeeze bunt, and DJ LeMahieu was easily tagged out by catcher A.J. Ellis.
That is the way the season has gone for the Rockies (59-91).
“If we score on those opportunities early on maybe the game is a little different,” Weiss said. “Obviously, the sixth got away from us.”
The crowd was so sparse that screams by fans could easily be heard.
Los Angeles showed no signs of a letdown after a big series win in San Francisco, where the Dodgers took two of three to extend their lead in the NL West.
Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer. and Adrian Gonzalez had three RBIs. Yasiel Puig showed more signs of getting back on track with two hits.
Jamey Wright (5-4) earned the win.
Before the game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly remained confident that his players could put the key series with the Giants behind them and focus on the Rockies, who have the worst record in the NL.
Wilin Rosario hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who returned home after an 0-6 road trip.
REPEAT CHAMPION
Rockies 1B Justin Morneau returned to the lineup after missing two games with sore left ribs to continue his campaign for the NL batting title. His averaged remained at .315 after getting a hit in three official at-bats. He is two percentage points behind Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison.
MOVING UP
Rosario’s home run was the 63rd of his career. He is tied for 12th on the franchise list with Chris Iannetta.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado was out of the starting lineup due to a chest/rib injury. Weiss said Arenado would undergo some tests but “I don’t anticipate him missing a whole lot (of time).”
Weiss said Arenado was injured while diving for a ball during a game in New York against the Mets.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LHP Tyler Matzek (5-10) has given up just four runs over his last 29 1-3 innings.
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