Van Slyke Scores Winning Run In 12th To Help Dodgers Win 4th Straight, Lock No. 2 Seed
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Scott Van Slyke scored the winning run on Franklin Morales' wild pitch in the 12th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Colorado Rockies 6-5 on Saturday night.
The Dodgers (93-68) have won four straight, including an NL West-clinching victory over San Francisco on Wednesday. They are locked into the league's No. 2 playoff seed.
Colorado's bullpen retired 18 straight, a stretch that spanned from the sixth inning until the 12th.
Van Slyke singled with one out, advanced to second when Tim Federowicz was hit by pitch, stole third and came home on Morales' wild pitch.
Carlos Frias (1-1) pitched three scoreless innings for Los Angeles for his first major league win.
Morales (6-9) took the loss for Colorado (66-95), which has dropped three straight.
The Rockies took a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning, but the Dodgers erased it with a four-run spurt that knocked starter Eddie Butler from the game.
Los Angeles rapped out four hits in the inning, including Van Slyke's tying RBI single and Matt Kemp's go-ahead RBI double.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly subbed often, and by the top of the sixth, eight of Los Angeles' nine starters had been replaced -- including pitcher Dan Haren.
The Rockies chipped away against the Dodgers bullpen. Charlie Culberson singled home Michael McKenry in the sixth, and McKenry cut the deficit to 5-4 with a solo homer in the eighth.
Ben Paulsen tied it in the ninth, sending Paco Rodriguez's first pitch down the right field line, just inside the foul pole, and into the seats.
Haren took a no-decision but continued a recent hot stretch with a solid outing. He pitched five innings, allowed six hits and two runs, walked none and struck out four.
He has a 2.09 ERA over his last seven starts, dating to Aug. 26.
Butler, making his third career start, gave up five runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings for Colorado.
TRAINERS ROOM:
Dodgers: 2B Dee Gordon was removed in the second inning due to right hip irritation. His removal was characterized as a precaution by team staff and he is day to day. ... LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (left shoulder inflammation) didn't report any pain after throwing off a mound Friday. He will throw a full bullpen session Sunday.
Rockies: 2B DJ LeMahieu (sprained left knee) will have an MRI on Monday. He was injured while diving for a ball in the series opener.
UP NEXT:
Dodgers: RHP Zack Greinke (16-8, 2.74) looks to remain unbeaten since Aug. 9. He is 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last seven starts.
Rockies RHP Christian Bergman (3-4, 5.29) wraps up his rookie season. Bergman, 26, has won three of his last four decisions.
