Major League Baseball

Rockies hit Kershaw hard but fall to Dodgers 10-8

Published Sep. 2, 2013 10:25 p.m. ET

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The Colorado hitters got to Clayton Kershaw. The Rockies pitchers couldn't make it stand up.

The Los Angeles ace surrendered a career-high 11 hits but stuck around for five shaky innings as the Dodgers held on to beat Colorado 10-8 on Monday.

Charlie Blackmon had three hits and six other Rockies players had two apiece, including Wilin Rosario's 21st home run in the ninth inning. Colorado finished with 18 hits.

''We put up that many hits and that many runs, as a pitching staff you want to win that game,'' Colorado starter Chad Bettis said. ''They stole one from us, for sure. Everybody on offense was unbelievable today and as a staff we should have been better.''

Andre Ethier had three hits, including a two-run homer, to lift the Dodgers to their fifth straight victory despite the loss of Yasiel Puig to a strained right knee in the sixth inning. The NL West leaders are 35-8 since the All-Star break.

Puig was called out for interference on the bases in the first inning. He then hurt his knee on an awkward slide into third base and gingerly jogged home on Hanley Ramirez's sacrifice fly in the sixth, before being replaced in right field.

Kershaw (14-8) didn't have his usual dominant command, giving up five runs as his ERA jumped from a league-leading 1.72 to 1.89. He had a productive day at the plate, though, lining a two-run single in the fifth.

It was just the second time in 95 career starts Kershaw has allowed 10 or more hits. The last time was July 22, 2008, at Coors Field when he was a rookie.

''I thought our approach against Kershaw was good. I thought our effort was really, really good,'' manager Walt Weiss said. ''We battled very well, our execution was a little bit short.''

Jeff Manship (0-5) took the loss as he gave up three runs - two earned - in relief of Bettis.

The Dodgers' bullpen struggled late, with Ronald Belisario allowing two runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 8-7. But he got Michael Cuddyer to hit into an inning-ending double play with the tying runner on third.

Los Angeles added two insurance runs in the ninth on a run-scoring single from Juan Uribe and an RBI double from Carl Crawford.

That came in handy as Kenley Jansen endured a rocky ninth, giving up a solo homer to Rosario, before picking up his 25th save in 28 chances.

Puig had a rough day on the bases and at the plate. The rookie ran the Dodgers out of a big first inning when he plowed over DJ LeMahieu as the second baseman tried to field a grounder. Puig was called out for runner's interference, nullifying a run.

Later, the rookie hit a liner that LeMahieu jumped high to snare and then quickly tossed to second to double up Kershaw. Puig also was hit in the side by a pitch from Bettis.

In the sixth, Puig was hustling from first to third when he slid past the bag, reaching back to grab it. He stayed on the ground for a moment before standing on the bag.

After Puig scored on Ramirez's sacrifice fly, Skip Schumaker took his place. Puig is hitting .351 this season.

Kershaw had a forgettable first inning, giving up an uncharacteristic three runs. After that, the lefty quickly settled into a groove, though, even helping himself out at the plate with a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fifth.

But the lead didn't last, with Nolan Arenado hitting an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning and later scoring Jordan Pacheco's single.

''He was leaving the ball up a little bit. He didn't hit his spots entirely,'' Arenado said. ''His stuff isn't overpowering, but it's always moving. We found a way to get to him.''

Kershaw came into game with opposing teams hitting just .186 off of him. The Rockies, using a makeshift lineup that didn't include Troy Tulowitzki or Todd Helton, pounded him for 11 hits.

''His stuff is really good,'' Arenado said. ''You try not to get behind in the count and we got to him pretty good.''

With his strikeout of Rosario in the third, Kershaw reached the 200-strikeout mark for a fourth straight season.

NOTES: The Rockies are hopeful RHP Tyler Chatwood can make his next start after being hit in his pitching hand by a line drive Sunday. He served as a pinch-runner for Corey Dickerson (knee) in the eighth. ... Helton got the afternoon off a day after collecting his 2,500th hit, while Tulowitzki (sore legs) and Dexter Fowler (knee) also were out. ... Rockies trainer Keith Dugger said OF Carlos Gonzalez's sprained right middle finger was sore after playing Saturday and Sunday in a rehab assignment. He was scratched from the lineup Monday. He is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday and will have his finger reevaluated.

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