Clayton Kershaw Ready to Rock n’ Roll at Coors Field

Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 1.78) vs. Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 5.40)

Lineup:

Gwynn LF

Mark Ellis 2B

Kemp CF

Rivera 1B

Ethier RF

Hairston 3B

Sellers SS

A.J. Ellis C

Kershaw P

The Dodgers and Rockies will battle in the rubber game of the three-game series at Coors Field this afternoon before the Dodgers leave to play a weekend series in Chicago. The Dodgers are now 17-7 while the Rockies are 11-12 on the season. Playing in Coors Field is always an adventure. The Dodgers walloped three homeruns last night in Denver-Dee Gordon, A.J. Ellis, and Andre Ethier all went yard. Even though the Dodgers scored 7 runs, and Ted Lilly was pitching well (other than one CarGo homer), Don Mattingly pulled Lilly out after 6 innings, and the bullpen began to do what it does best=implode. You can’t count out the Rockies, and their meat and potato hitters of Cargo and Tulo along with veteran Helton have always given the Dodgers a tough time.

Last night I was annoyed when Don Mattingly took Ted Lilly out after only 6 innings. Later we found out that he was pulled from the game, because he was experiencing a right oblique strain. We will keep you posted on Lilly’s rusty side, and we hope that it will not sideline him at all since he has been pitching on point this season other than a pesky CarGo homerun in last night’s game.

"“I was throwing the kitchen sink at them,” Lilly said. “I was thinking about [the side] early, and in the fifth it kept getting a little worse. I’ve had this in the past, but minor. I thought it was getting better. I only feel it when I throw. I started the game and felt good, but it crept up on me.”"

Adam Kennedy started at third base, because apparently Juan Uribe re-injured his wrist during batting practice. We’re not sure on the magnitude of his injury, but he did not appear in last night’s game at all. Of course this happens when Juan Uribe is finally starting to come around at the plate.

Clayton Kershaw will be leading the Dodgers to a possible series victory. Kersh will also be vying for his third personal win of the season. His first three games of the season ended in no-decisions. Last Friday, Kersh pitched 8 solid innings against the Nationals-his longest game yet. In his career against Colorado, Kersh is 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA. Clayton has tamed the Rockies in the past, and most of them haven’t had much success against the Cy Young Award winner. Todd Helton, Dodger enemy #1, has one homerun against him.

The Rockies will counter with a southpaw of their own with Drew Pomeranz. After Joulys Chacin’s shaky start yesterday, Pomeranz will try to get the Rockies’ rotation back on track. Last Friday versus the Mets, Pomeranz left the game after four innings due to left forearm tightness. He says he’s fine, but we’ll see how that affects him this afternoon if at all. Pomeranz has never faced the Dodgers, and none of the Dodgers have any at bats against him yet. Last season, the Rockies received Pomeranz from Cleveland in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal. Pomeranz made his MLB debut on September 11, 2011, and he made four starts last season with the Rockies. He finished with a 2-1 record and 5.40 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 5 walks.

The game will be at 12:10 pm and televised on Prime Ticket. The Dodgers are looking to capture their sixth series win of the season. They have lost two series  at the hands of the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers.

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