Dodgers Beat Rockies 7-6 On Kemp's 11th Inning Homer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matt Kemp hit a game-ending homer in the 11th inning for his 100th RBI of the season, reaching the mark for the second time in his career and giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-6 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
The Dodgers overcame a pair of two-run homers by Troy Tulowitzki to win their fifth straight.
James Loney tied the game in the ninth on a homer off the first pitch from Rafael Betancourt, who recorded his fourth blown save in seven attempts. Kemp drove an 0-2 pitch from Jason Hammel (7-13) into the right-field pavilion for his 31st homer of the season, ending a game that lasted 4 hours, 39 minutes.
Hammel was making his second relief appearance after being taken out of the starting rotation.
Mike MacDougal (1-1) pitched a perfect inning for the victory.
Hong-Chih Kuo came in with a 5-4 lead in the seventh and faced four batters, giving up a bunt single to Carlos Gonzalez and Tulowitzki's 28th homer on the next pitch before striking out the next two Rockies.
The Dodgers rallied with five runs in the sixth to take a one-run lead. They won the series opener 6-1 Friday by scoring six runs in the seventh.
Casey Blake tied the game with a two-run double and Jamey Carroll stroked a two-out single for the go-ahead run. Tulowitzki regained the lead for Colorado, hitting a first-pitch homer in the seventh, one pitch after Gonzalez reached on a bunt single to first base.
Tulowitzki's 50th multihit game tied him with the Mets' Jose Reyes for the National League lead. He went 2 for 4 with a double Friday night.
Gonzalez extended two streaks: hits in 14 consecutive games and an RBI in 11 straight games, a club record and the longest in the majors this season, according to Stats LLC. He was 4 for 6 with two RBIs.
The Rockies scored three runs in the second. Gonzalez had an RBI single and Tulowitzki followed with a two-run homer into the left-field pavilion. Gonzalez's two-out RBI single in the fourth extended their lead to 4-0.
Colorado's Kevin Millwood allowed five hits and two runs in 5 1-3 innings, struck out two and walked two in his fourth start with the club.
Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley gave up 10 hits and four runs in six innings, struck out five and walked two.
Second base umpire Bob Davidson left the game after three innings because of dehydration on a searingly hot day. He received an IV and came back on the field in the bottom of the seventh, but after talking with Dodgers trainer Stan Conte, Davidson retreated to the clubhouse and the game continued with a three-man crew.
The temperature at gametime was 97 degrees, with most fans in the upper deck and outfield pavilions seeking shelter from the sun under the overhang.
NOTES: Gonzalez's hitting streak is the longest by a Rockie this season and longest since his 16-game streak last season. ... It was Millwood's first start at Dodger Stadium since May 1, 2000.
Copyright 2011, The Associated Press.
