Dodgers crush Rockies to complete series sweep
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Howie Kendrick, Scott Van Slyke and Joc Pederson all hit sixth-inning home runs in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 7-0 shutout over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday to complete a series sweep.
The Dodgers, who entered the game leading the league in extra-base hits with 46, pounded out 10 more with three homers and seven doubles. Van Slyke was 3-for-4 with two doubles, his home run and three runs batted in, and Justin Turner collected three doubles among his four hits.
Brandon McCarthy (2-0) was effective in six scoreless innings for Los Angeles, scattering three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I felt fine. I got a little tired early (because) I think I came out of the gates a little hot," McCarthy said. "Overall, I feel like I got into a groove early and stayed away from the middle of the plate."
Rockies starter Eddie Butler (1-1) allowed two runs on six hits and a walk in five innings with four strikeouts, and it was reliever Scott Oberg that let the game get out of hand.
The Dodgers opened the scoring with a two-run second inning. After Andre Ethier singled with one out, Van Slyke and Pederson hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With the early run support, McCarthy only faced the minimum over the next three innings. In the sixth, he allowed the first two runners to reach base. After Carlos Gonzalez popped out, McCarthy started an inning-ending double play off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki.
"We knew we had our hands full (in the series)," said Tulowitzki. "Coming in when you're facing (Clayton) Kershaw, (Zack) Greinke and McCarthy. You know you have your hands full. At the same time we were a confident bunch. We fought but it just didn't work out."
Oberg relieved Butler in the sixth, and the game fell apart for the Rockies. Kendrick led off with a home run, and Ethier walked. With Van Slyke at the plate, Justin Morneau dropped a pop-up in foul territory. Van Slyke capitalized on the second chance and lined a home run into the left-field seats to extend the Los Angeles lead to 5-0.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Dodgers, though, were not done. Pederson followed with a home run, and Turner's double with two outs added another run.
Adam Liberatore and Juan Nicasio combined to keep the Rockies off the board in the final three innings.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Los Angeles has won seven games in a row ... Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez was 0-for-5 after opening the season on an 11-game hitting streak ... Charlie Blackmon had two of Colorado's four hits ... Los Angeles starts a three-game series at San Francisco on Tuesday while Colorado hosts San Diego for four starting on Monday.