Rockies Blank Dodgers In First Of Doubleheader
DENVER (AP) — Tyler Anderson warmed up and took the mound for his start on Tuesday. A rain storm, postponement and restless night's sleep later, he returned to the hill.
This outing was well worth the wait.
The left-hander pitched efficiently into the seventh inning, Nolan Arenado kept up his torrid August with another RBI and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-0 in the opener of a doubleheader Wednesday.
Anderson (5-5), with his deceiving motion, allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings against the NL West leaders. He also helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second in the team's first shutout at home this season.
"It was nice," Anderson said. "Tiring, but it was good."
Anderson actually tossed a few warmup pitches Tuesday before the first inning. But a relentless downpour blanketed the area, leading to a postponement after a delay of 2 hours, 32 minutes. He tried to stay loose by lightly throwing and riding the stationary bike. That's why he was losing steam late in the game.
"Anderson gave us everything he had," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "When you have a doubleheader, you want to get every out from your starter you can. He did a great job."
Arenado had a run-scoring double in the first, giving him 34 RBIs this month. It's the most for August in Rockies history, passing the mark of 33 set by Andres Galarraga in 1996.
Ross Stripling (3-6) surrendered three runs over six innings.
"Ross pitched well enough for us to win and you know left-handed pitching has been our Achilles heel," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Our situational at-bats need to get better."
Colorado has taken the first two games in the series from the Dodgers. This is the fifth series the Rockies have captured from a first-place team in August. They're the only team in the majors with a positive run differential (plus-26) and a losing mark (64-68).
Pinch-hitter Stephen Cardullo hit his first career homer in the seventh — on his birthday, no less. The 29-year-old Cardullo spent the last few seasons playing for an independent team in New York before signing a minor league contract with Colorado in January. He joined the Rockies last week after hitting .308 with 17 homers for Triple-A Albuquerque.
"What a special feeling," said Cardullo, who got the ball from the fan who caught it.
Anderson's quirky delivery gave the Dodgers fits all afternoon. He briefly pauses before throwing to the plate.
The 2011 first-round pick wiggled his way out of a sticky situation in the sixth when he had runners on first and third and one out. He struck out Adrian Gonzalez — the top daytime hitter in the majors this season — and then fanned Rob Segedin with a changeup.
Anderson trotted back out for the seventh, and left to an ovation with one out and two on. Chris Rusin bailed him out by striking out pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (mild disk irritation) had a successful outing in a simulated game Tuesday and now is in a momentary holding pattern. "We haven't made the decision as far as what his next progression will be," Roberts said. ... LHP Scott Kazmir (neck stiffness) will be slotted into the rotation when he's eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 7.
Rockies: 1B Mark Reynolds (broken bone in left hand) was activated off the 15-day disabled list and entered as a defensive replacement in the seventh. To make room, INF Daniel Descalso was put on the paternity list. ... RHP Tyler Chatwood (back strain) will start Saturday.
EXPANDED ROSTERS
Roberts gave an early glimpse of his plans for September call-ups. The Dodgers will add catcher Austin Barnes, righty Louis Coleman, lefty Luis Avilan — who will serve as the 26th man Wednesday for the second game — and righty Josh Ravin. Missing from that list is outfielder Yasiel Puig, who was demoted to the minors in early August.
"With Yasiel, that's still a possibility, but we're trying to figure out what's best for him and what's best for us," Roberts said.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers scratched lefty Rich Hill (10-3) from the start in Game 2, going with righty Bud Norris instead. The team was concerned about a blister on his left middle finger. Colorado went with righty Jeff Hoffman (0-2).
