Furcal's three-run homer lifts Dodgers to 11-6 win over Rockies
By PAT GRAHAM | Associated Press | May 2, 08 11:53 PM CDT in
Sports
Rafael Furcal had three hits, including a three-run homer in a seven-run sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won their seventh straight game, beating Colorado 11-6 on Friday night.
Matt Kemp drove in four runs with two doubles and Russell Martin made his first career start at third base, turning in a couple of defensive gems.
Brad Penny (5-2) went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out just one. Penny continues to dominate the Rockies, improving 14-2 in 23 career starts.
Los Angeles went from balmy weather to brrrrr in a day. They played in 80-degree sunshine in Florida on Thursday, only to be greeted by a cold front in Denver that dipped temperatures into the mid 30s.
It took awhile for the Dodgers' bats to warm up, but they sizzled in the sixth as they sent 10 batters to the plate. Kemp added an RBI double in the inning while Mark Sweeney drew a pinch-hit walk that forced home a run and Blake DeWitt had a two-run pinch-hit single.
Six of the runs were scored with two outs, including Furcal's three-run homer to left off reliever Josh Newman. It was Furcal's fourth homer of the season.
He also had a single in the third, extending his streak of reaching base with a hit or walk to 29 games.
Los Angeles broke the game open with a four-run eighth, capped by Kemp's three-run double down the left-field line. Furcal also added an RBI single on a swinging bunt with the bases loaded.
With a 3-0 lead, Jeff Francis (0-3) was cruising toward his first win of the season before the sixth. He gave up four runs on six hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Todd Helton hit a solo homer for Colorado, his third of the season, while Scott Podsednik had a two-run pinch-hit triple, Clint Barmes drove in a run with a single and Matt Holliday picked up two RBIs on two groundouts.
Martin was kept quite busy all night at third base, snagging a liner by Willy Taveras in the second and backhanding a grounder spinning away from him by Francis in the fifth. Martin moved back behind the plate in the sixth.
Troy Tulowitzki said before the game that he doesn't think he'll need surgery after suffering a tear in his left quadriceps on Tuesday night.
However, he's not sure when he'll be back. The slick-fielding shortstop could be out until the All-Star break.
Tulowitzki injured his quad while charging a grounder in the first inning at San Francisco. He felt a "tweak" as he tried to make an off-balance throw.
Notes:@ RHP Jason Grilli made his debut with Colorado, giving up two hits and no runs in one inning. He was acquired Wednesday from Detroit. To make room, Colorado designated RHP Jose Capellan for assignment. ... Dodgers RHP Jason Schmidt threw 72 pitches off the mound Friday, and will throw a simulated game either Monday or Tuesday. He's been out all season after having shoulder surgery. "He had pop on his fastball," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. ... INF Juan Castro has agreed to terms with Colorado on a Triple-A contract, pending a physical. Castro started the season with Cincinnati, but was designated for assignment on April 21.
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