Blanton Gets 1st Win With Dodgers As They Hang On To Beat Rockies 10-8
BOX SCORE | STANDINGS
DENVER (AP) -- Joe Blanton pitched effectively into the eighth inning for his first win with the Los Angeles Dodgers and A.J. Ellis hit his first career grand slam in a 10-8 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
Hanley Ramirez, another mid-season acquisition by the Dodgers, also homered in his second straight game to help the Dodgers overcome the absence of slugging center fielder Matt Kemp and withstand a late rally that saw Colorado score seven runs in the eighth inning.
With his status characterized as day to day, Kemp sat out because of a bone bruise on his left knee and sore jaw suffered in a collision with the center field wall the night before while trying to chase down a fly ball.
Blanton (9-12), who was 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in four previous starts since joining the Dodgers in an Aug. 3 trade with Philadelphia, struck out five and walked one in 7 1-3 innings. It was his first win since July 16 when he beat the Dodgers in one of his last starts for the Phillies.
Drew Pomeranz (1-8) lost his fifth consecutive decision since his lone win of the season July 6 against Washington. He allowed six runs on six hits, walked none and struck out four.
Pomeranz retired the first six batters he faced before running into trouble in the third, when the Dodgers sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs.
Juan Rivera and Ellis began the Dodgers' big inning with successive singles and advanced on Blanton's sacrifice. After Mark Ellis reached on first baseman Jordan Pacheco's fielding error that also allowed Rivera to score, Shane Victorino followed with an RBI single and Adrian Gonzalez, part of the latest wave of newcomers included in the Dodgers' blockbuster trade last week with the Boston Red Sox, chipped in with a two-run single.
Ramirez capped the burst with his 22nd homer of the season and eighth homer in 32 games with the Dodgers since coming to Los Angeles from Miami.
After Colorado got an RBI single from Tyler Colvin in the seventh for its first run, the Dodgers stretched their lead to 10-1, loading the bases against reliever Will Harris before A.J. Ellis connected for his 11th home run of the season.
The Rockies sent 11 batters to the plate in their half of the eighth.
Blanton retired the first batter he faced and gave up successive singles to Pacheco and Ramon Hernandez before being relieved by Shawn Tolleson, who gave up three run-scoring singles and a walk before being lifted for Randy Choate.
Choate hit Tyler Colvin with a pitch, forcing in another run and bringing on reliever Ronald Belisario. The Rockies added three more runs in the inning on Josh Rutledge's fielder's choice, Carlos Gonzalez's RBI single and an error by center fielder Victorino.
Belisario got the final five outs for his first save since Sept. 29, 2010, which also was against Colorado.
NOTES: The Dodgers return to LA to open a homestand Thursday against the Diamondbacks, with LHP Clayton Kershaw (12-7) going against Arizona's Ian Kennedy (11-11). ... The Rockies are off Thursday before hosting the San Diego Padres in a three-game set over the weekend. ... The Dodgers placed LHP Scott Elbert on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation and recalled RHP Shawn Tolleson Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. ... Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki (groin) and 1B Jason Giambi (viral illness) were scheduled to play Wednesday night for Triple-A Colorado Springs as part of their rehab assignments. ... All 15 hits for the Rockies were singles.
