Money Can’t Buy Runs: Rockies Shutout and Beat Up Dodgers 10-0

Dodgers 0 4 0

Rockies 10 13 1

WP- Francis (5-4)

LP- Beckett (5-12)

S- Belisle (2)

HR- Colvin (15), Rosario (21)

Four hits. That’s all this All-Star Dodger lineup could muster tonight in Coors Field of all places. For some reason they couldn’t hit Jeff Francis who only allowed three hits in his five innings of work. Josh Beckett, in his first start as a Dodger, pitched admirably. He allowed a homerun to Tyler Colvin in the first inning, and two more scattered runs in his 5 2/3 innings of work. This would be Colorado’s first home shutout of this season remarkably. Then there was the ugly eighth inning when the Rockies scored seven runs off Kenley Jansen and Josh Wall. I’m not sure what to say at this point. It’s quite puzzling that A) the Dodgers get shutout in Colorado by Jeff Francis and company B) this talented lineup is shutout at all.

Jeff Francis goes to work in the first inning, and he induces a groundout from Shane Victorino to start things out. Mark Ellis pops out. Matt Kemp smacks a two-out double over the head of Andrew Brown in right field. Adrian Gonzalez flies out to right to end the inning and strand Kemp at second.

Josh Beckett makes his Dodger Debut and National League debut tonight at Coors Field. Beckett promptly serves up a 91-mph fastball to

Tyler Colvin which he crushes for a lead-off solo homerun. It’s going to be a long night. Once again the Dodgers allow a first inning run. Jordan Pacheco grounds out. Beckett strikes out CarGo and Wilin Rosario to contain the damage to one run.

In the second inning Hanley Ramirez hits a deep fly ball to center field, but it’s just out number one. Andre Ethier‘s comebacker is out number two. Luis Cruz‘s grounder is out number three.

Beckett pitches a nice inning in the bottom of the second and retires the side in order.

In the third, Shane Victorino draws a two-out walk. He steals second and takes third on a throwing error by catcher Rosario. The Dodgers waste another opportunity with a runner in scoring position as Mark Ellis strikes out swinging.

Jonathan Herrera singles to lead-off the bottom half of the third inning. Jeff Francis bunts, and Herrera is out at second on a force out. Tyler Colvin also grounds into a force out. Beckett allows his first walk of the game to Pacheco, but CarGo flies out to right to end the inning and strand the runners.

Matt Kemp strikes out to begin the fourth inning. Gonzo grounds out. Hanley strikes out.

In the home half of the fourth, Chris Nelson triples to the left field gap with two out. DJ LeMahieu singles in Nelson for the second run of the game for the Rockies, 2-0.

Luis Cruz gets a single with one out in the fifth against Francis. A.J. Ellis doubles off the left field wall, and the Dodgers have runners at second and third. Beckett’s whiff is the second out. Victorino strikes out swinging wildly to end the inning and the rally. That’s two more stranded runners.

Dexter Fowler, who is pinch-hitting for Jeff Francis, strikes out against Beckett in the bottom of the fifth. Beckett walks Colvin. Pacheco grounds out, but Hanley can’t get the out at second in time. They intentionally walk CarGo. Rosario strikes out, and the Rockies come up empty.

Jeff Francis pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 hits, no runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts on 91 pitches.

Josh Roenicke will pitch the sixth inning for the Rockies. MEllis and Kemp both ground out. A-Gon draws a walk. Ramirez grounds out to end the inning.

Chris Nelson comes up with his second hit of the night with one out in the bottom half of the sixth. LeMahieu strikes out. Herrera singles. Josh Rutledge comes off the bench and proceeds to single in the third Colorado run of the night off Beckett. That’s going to be all for Beckett. Don Mattingly goes to the bullpen, and he will bring in the left-hander Randy Choate.  Rutledge steals second base with Colvin batting. Choate strikes out Colvin looking on a nasty sinker to end the inning.

Josh Beckett pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts

on 108 pitches.

The Dodgers fail to score in the seventh against Rex Brothers. They go down 1-2-3.

Brandon League will pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers, and he also sends the Rockies down in order 1-2-3. He strikes out Pacheco and Rosario.

Nick Punto strikes out against Rex Brothers to start off the eighth inning. Shane Victorino triples to left field. Jim Tracy goes to the bullpen again, and he’ll bring in Matt Belisle. The first pitch he throws hits Mark Ellis in the rear end, and now it’s up to Matt Kemp. Of course Kemp hits into a 5-4-3 double play.

Kenley Jansen comes into pitch the bottom of the eighth for some reason. Nelson doubles with two out, and that’s his third hit of the night. LeMahieu squeaks a single down the right field line, and Nelson brings in another run for the Rockies, 4-0. Herrera also picks up his third hit of the night with a single to center. Tyler Colvin hits a stand-up triple to center field. Matt Kemp slams into the wall trying to make the catch. Two additional runs score, and the Rockies now lead 6-0. The trainers come out to check Matt Kemp, and at the same time the Dodgers have to make a pitching change. Luckily Matt is okay, and he stays in the game. Josh Wall, who was just called up today, comes in and promptly serves up another run. Pacheco doubles down the left field line, and Colvin scores. With CarGo at bat, Wall makes a wild pitch allowing Pacheco to advance to third. CarGo strikes out, but the ball gets away from A.J. Ellis on strike three. CarGo makes it to first on the wild pitch, and yet another run scores. Rosario continues the beating as he homers for a two-run shot. The Rockies now lead 10-0. The third out finally comes on a groundout from Blackmon, but the Rockies notch 7 runs in the inning.

Belisle is still in for the top of the ninth. Gonzalez grounds out. Ramirez grounds out. Ethier walks, but Cruz flies out to end the game.

 The Dodgers fall to 69-60. The Giants were idle today, so the Dodgers are now 2 1/2 games back in the standings.

Tomorrow game two will start at 5:40 pm, and it will be televised on KCAL. Chris Capuano will battle Tyler Chatwood.