4/22/05: Dodgers/Rockies

[Timberwolf]

Tonight, this game is coming to you from Coors Field in Denver, Colorado as the Colorado Rockies play the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. It's Milton Bradley, Jason Phillips, Jeff Kent, and the rest of the bad guys as they butt heads with Todd Helton, Clint Barmas, Matt Holliday, and the rest of the good guys.

Tonight on the mound, it will be Jason Jennings going against Dodgers eccentric starter Jeff Weaver in the mound.

Weaver is a guy that let conditions and situation get on his head so if the Rockies can get some hits on the board, he could implode at Coors Field where it imposes upon the weak. Jennings has been very good this year for the Rox.

Jennings vs. Weaver

GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Durango53]

Dodgers (12-3) at Colorado (4-11), 6:35 p.m. MT

One would be forgiven for thinking the Los Angeles Dodgers never lose. They have baseball's best record.

Colorado right-hander Jason Jennings has to be wondering if he'll ever win.

He hasn't lost that often. He just can't win. In his last 11 starts, he's 0-4. He left five games in position to win, but the Rockies didn't close the deal. Two other times he left the game tied -- one was last Sept. 30 at Dodger Stadium, when he gave up one run in eight innings.

The frustrations for Jennings, who hasn't won since last Aug. 17, illustrate one of the reasons Colorado has baseball's worst record. But on Friday night, Jennings once again will try to keep pitching well and hope the Rockies can get the job done against the Dodgers in the first of three games at Coors Field.

"August is a long time ago," Jennings said. "I've given us a chance to win last year and again this year, but it just hasn't happened. I know it will happen."

For it to happen against the Dodgers requires beginning-to-end execution. Thursday afternoon's 6-3 loss at Philadelphia was the eighth loss in which Colorado has led, and 11 of its games have been decided by three or fewer runs.

Last season, Colorado went 5-5 in home games against the Dodgers, with two of the losses by one run and two others by two runs.

The ability to compete is one reason rookie shortstop Clint Barmes, who enters with a seven-game hit streak and a .448 batting average, is excited about the matchup with the Dodgers. The Rockies split a quick, two-game road trip at Philadelphia and have won three of their last six games. That's nothing compared to what the Dodgers have done, but it's welcome after an Opening Day victory followed by eight losses.

"It definitely will be nice to turn around and go back home," Barmes said. "After the way we played on the road, it's going to help our confidence. Everybody played well."

Recent results serve as evidence that there is a lot Jennings doesn't control. Nonetheless, his goal is to influence the outcome in his favor. He'll have to be careful with Jeff Kent (.435, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs in 23 at-bats against Jennings) and Cesar Izturis (.409, 2 2B in 22 at-bats), but in general he'll need to be aggressive.

"I get into the seventh inning, especially at Coors, the pitcher is doing his job," Jennings said. "I'm going to stay out there as long as I can. It's just a matter of getting some quick outs early in the game, it helps.

"It'll be a tough test. They're been pitching well. They've been doing everything well. But you can't approach this game like it's more important than any other game. I can't change or invent anything new for a team that's hot."

[Durango53]

TIME: Friday, 8:35 p.m. EDT.

Jeff Weaver looks to start 3-0 for the first time in his career and help the Los Angeles Dodgers bounce back from having their eight-game winning streak snapped as they open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Weaver was sensational in his last start, pitching a five-hit shutout in 6-0 win against San Diego on Sunday. He threw 114 pitches for his 11th complete game in 177 career starts, just two days after teammate Derek Lowe had a three-hit shutout against the Padres.

"I think all of us as starters are trying to outdo each other," Weaver said. "That's what keeps us competitive and keeps us throwing well. We know what kind of starting staff we have, and we know we can get deep in the game and keep us close."

Weaver struck out seven, walked one and retired his final 10 batters en route to his first shutout and complete game since June 18, 2002, with Detroit.

"When I was in Detroit, I took pride in getting deep into games, pitching a lot of innings and finishing what I started," Weaver said. "And to get this one shows that it's still there and shows the possibilities. Hopefully, I just remember it and continue to roll with it."

In his first start, Weaver pitched eight scoreless innings at San Francisco on April 7, before giving up eight runs over three innings in a no-decision against the Giants five days later.

The Dodgers are coming off a 6-1 loss at San Diego on Thursday night, failing to keep pace with the 1955 team that opened the season 22-2. Scott Erickson, who beat the Padres last week in Los Angeles, lasted just 4 2-3 innings. He gave up five runs and nine hits, and walked two and struck out four.

Colorado is coming off a 6-3 loss at Philadelphia on Thursday after squandering a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Desi Relaford's two-run homer had given the Rockies the three-run lead in the top of the inning, before Joe Kennedy gave up two-run homers to Jim Thome and Todd Pratt in the bottom of the inning.

""You get more home runs here than Coors Field, no question about that," Kennedy said of the Phillies' Citizens Bank Park. "Yeah, the ball carries, but Coors Field is so big you give up more singles, doubles and triples, but it's not as much the home run as here."

[Durango53]

STANDINGS: Dodgers - 1st place, NL West. Rockies - 5th place, 8 GB, NL West.

[Durango53]

DODGERS PROBABLE STARTER: Weaver (2-0, 3.60 ERA). Weaver was 1-3 with a 6.07 ERA in five April starts for the Dodgers last year. Overall, he is 11-16 with a 4.41 ERA in the opening of the season. Weaver is making his first career start against the Rockies.

LAD: RHP Jeff Weaverhttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/213711.jpg
•2-0, 3.60 ERA in 2005
•Has never faced COL

COL: RHP Jason Jenningshttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/407298.jpg
•0-2, 5.94 ERA in 2005
•0-0, 1.84 ERA vs. LA in 2005

ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Jennings (0-2, 5.94 ERA). The 2002 NL rookie of the year, 0-4 in his last 11 starts, gave up five runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings against the Giants on Sunday, but did not get the decision in the Rockies' 8-6 loss. He is 4-3 with a 3.36 ERA in 11 career starts against the Dodgers.

[Durango53]

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Dodgers - Milton Bradley, .345 avg., 5 HRs and 14 RBIs; Jeff Kent, 18 runs; Kent, Jason Repko and Jose Valentin, 2 SBs. Rockies - Clint Barmes, .448 avg., 4 HRs, 12 RBIs and 14 runs; Barmes and Matt Holliday, 2 SBs.

[Durango53]

2004 SEASON SERIES: Dodgers, 11-8.

[Durango53]

STREAKS AND NOTES: Dodgers - C Jason Phillips extended his hitting streak to eight game with a single in the fourth inning Thursday night. Phillips has struck out just twice in 50 plate appearances. ... Closer Eric Gagne had treatment on his sprained right elbow ligament and did not throw Thursday. ... Manager Jim Tracy said that if it is cold in Colorado, D.J. Houlton would start on Sunday in place of Brad Penny, who is set to come off the DL. If the weather is good, Penny (right biceps strain) will pitch. Rockies - SS Barmes went 1-for-4 Thursday, dropping his NL-leading average to .448. His 26 hits are the most by a Rockies rookie in April. ... Eleven of Colorado's 15 games have been decided by three runs or fewer. ... The Rockies split 10 home games against the Dodgers last year, with four of the losses by two runs or fewer.

[Durango53]

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Dodgers - 7-3 on the road; Rockies - 3-4 at home.

[Durango53]

On television
• COL: FSN Rocky Mountain
• LAD: FSNW2

On radio
• COL: KOA 850
• LAD: KFWB, KWKW (Español)

[Durango53]

Rox laying the wood to the Dodgers!!!!!!!!!

Great to see the Rox staying out of that bullpen. Great game for Jason so far!!!! Lets go for a CG!!!!!!!!

[Timberwolf]

Great win tonight. Anytime a team can beat a very good team like LA, that's a great thing. Good job by the Rockies. It's great to gain a game in the NL West standings with that win against a first-place

Jason was fantastic tonight. He has had a very good month. He has been a horse. He is doing what great pitchers are doing. It was nice to see him go all the way. Good to see Clint not make the same mistake TWICE.

Rockies has played good baseball overall this month. I am glad to see good things coming to the Rockies.

I still think this team can be a factor in the NL West.

[Durango53]

Not until they have a bullpen. How many saves and leads has this pen blown to how many they have held?

But the Dodgers I dont think are a good team. I think they are playing good right now but above there head.


But great game for Brad Hawpe!! It is going to be very tough to take this kid out of the lineup now. Kind of like Holliday did last year.

And really the only reason Hurdle didnt take Jason out was because his pitch count was 100 after the 8th inning. He wasnt at that 120 where every pitcher comes out with Hurdle no matter how good they are doing.