Rockies 12, Dodgers 2
The weather was cool and the air was damp, yet the Colorado Rockies felt right at home Monday night in Los Angeles.
The Rockies lead the National League in runs, and some of that can be attributed to playing in hitter-friendly Coors Field. They had no such help at Dodger Stadium - it only seemed that way.
Colorado pounded out 19 hits, including home runs by Dexter Fowler, Wilin Rosario and Nolan Arenado on its way to a 12-2 victory over the Dodgers.
The beneficiary of all that offense was starter Tyler Chatwood, who threw six scoreless innings and limited Los Angeles to five hits. Chatwood even got in on the hit parade, getting three hits and driving in two runs.
''Three lucky swings,'' said Chatwood, who is 4 for 6 this season. ''But pitching definitely comes first. It's just a bonus when you get a hit.''
There wasn't much luck involved with his performance on the mound. He struck out five, did not walk a batter and kept the Dodgers from mounting a serious scoring threat.
''When Tyler keeps the ball down, he's really, really tough,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ''He's got great stuff, and he's got a power arm. He's a good athlete. I didn't know he could swing it like that.''
Seven different Rockies had at least two hits. Arenado, one of the club's top prospects playing in his second big league game, had his first three hits. His two-run homer in the fourth made it 12-0. Rosario and Carlos Gonzalez also had three hits apiece.
''That was impressive. It was just what the doctor ordered,'' Weiss said. ''After a rough night last night, the guys came out and played really well.''
Because of a mechanical issue with their plane, the Rockies were stuck in Phoenix for eight hours Sunday night and didn't arrive in Los Angeles until 4 a.m. Monday. Weiss canceled batting practice before the game.
''If we're going to spend eight or 10 hours in an airport after a series like that (the Rockies lost three of four to Arizona), maybe it helped us turn the page,'' Weiss said. ''I'm proud of the way the guys showed up.''
Dodgers starter Ted Lilly (0-1) was finished after three innings, allowing five runs (four earned) and eight hits. Josh Wall fared even worse, giving up seven runs and eight hits in two innings. The Dodgers used five relievers in all, including utility man Skip Schumaker, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
''About the seventh inning (Dodgers manager Don Mattingly) said something could happen,'' said Schumaker, who also pitched in a mop-up role for the Cardinals against the Dodgers in 2011. ''You don't want to get anybody hurt. I don't want to get hurt, I don't want the other team to get hurt throwing a wild pitch. You want the thing over as quick as you can. You don't want it to turn into a circus. We're getting our butt kicked as it is, and I don't want to make a mockery of the game. You're just trying to get it over with as quickly as you can and move on.''
Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who got a scare when Matt Kemp was hit by a pitch from Chatwood, the ball deflecting off the earflap of Kemp's helmet. It appeared the ball grazed Kemp's shoulder first, lessening the blow. Kemp remained in the game. After the inning, Chatwood and Kemp spoke to each other.
''I wanted to make a point to apologize, so I apologized, and he said no harm, no foul,'' Chatwood said. ''I'll probably try to find him tomorrow and apologize again. Whenever you hit a guy in the head, it's scary for everybody.''
The Rockies were playing without cleanup hitter and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, taking a day off with a sore left shoulder. They didn't miss the All-Star, jumping on Lilly in the first inning. The first four batters hit the ball hard.
Fowler led off with a homer, Jordan Pacheco singled and Gonzalez doubled. Rosario followed with a three-run homer to make it 4-0 before Lilly retired a batter.
Lilly was making his second start of the season since returning from shoulder surgery. He fared better his first time out, giving up one run and six hits in five innings against the New York Mets.
Lilly came into the game 10-2 against the Rockies in 14 career starts, including six consecutive victories.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (thumb) was activated from the disabled list and could start Tuesday, which happens to be Hanley Ramirez bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez got his first at-bat of the season Monday, coming up as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. He struck out. ... To make room on the roster for Ramirez, the Dodgers placed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list. ... Fowler extended his hitting streak to eight games with his fifth career leadoff home run. ... Dodgers LHP Chris Capuano, on the disabled list since April 17 with a strained left calf, with begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.