Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ted Lilly pitched eight strong innings, and the Los Angeles Dodgers dealt a devastating blow to Colorado's slimming playoff hopes with a 3-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Coors Field.
Rockies Take On Dodgers As Ubaldo Jimenez Guns For 20th Win
Lilly (9-12) scattered four hits, walked two and struck out eight. His lone mistake came in the fourth inning, when Carlos Gonzalez homered to center field. The veteran left-hander had gone 0-4 with a 6.91 ERA in his previous five starts after posting a 1.83 ERA in winning his first five outings with Los Angeles.
Ubaldo Jimenez (19-8) was denied in his second attempt to become Colorado's first 20-game winner. The right-hander gave up two first-inning runs, but settled down to pitch seven full frames.
Los Angeles loaded the bases in the first inning. Rafael Furcal singled to begin the game and Ryan Theriot walked. After the next two batters were retired, Matt Kemp walked and Casey Blake hit a grounder up the middle that caromed off Jimenez and over the head of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Furcal and Theriot scored on the play. Jimenez then fanned Trent Oeltjen to end the inning.
Having cut their deficit in half on Gonzalez's 34th home run of the season, the Rockies threatened in the fifth. Todd Helton led off with a double, and Jonathan Herrera's one-out walk preceded a sacrifice bunt from Jimenez. Lilly induced a ground ball by Eric Young Jr. to escape unscathed.
A.J. Ellis singled home Blake in the ninth to extend the Dodgers' lead to 3-1.
Hong-Chih Kuo was perfect in the bottom of the inning to earn his 11th save.
Game Notes
Blake had three hits...Helton was 2-for-2 with a walk...Lilly hadn't lost five straight decisions since pitching for the New York Yankees in 2001...Jimenez has a career-high 204 strikeouts, six shy of tying the Rockies' single season record set by Pedro Astacio in 1999...The Rockies announced Jason Giambi is likely done for the season with a strained left biceps.
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