MEDIA CLIPS – April 9, 2017

Rare air: Rockies hit three HRs off Kershaw

By Ken Gurnick and Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra delivered back-to-back homers off Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw -- something he had never experienced -- to lift the Rockies to a 4-2 victory at Coors Field on Saturday night before a sellout crowd of 48,012.

"It doesn't surprise me," Reynolds said when it was noted consecutive homers off Kershaw had never happened. "He's tough. He just left a couple pitches up in the zone, and me and Parra put good swings on them.

"You've got to pick a pitch. His slider is tough. His heater, he elevates. His curveball, it's tough sledding. You've got to hope he makes a mistake. He made three of them tonight."

There was more homer history off Kershaw, a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner. Because Nolan

Arenado homered in the first inning, the game was the third time that Kershaw had given up three homers in a game.

Two have been against the Rockies.

"I know he felt good, he had good stuff, it's just one of those things with good hitters," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw's outing.

Arenado's homer, his second, also was a one-of-a kind feat. It came on a 75 mph curveball, and was just the fourth on a

Kershaw curve since Statcast™ began tracking in 2015. Arenado's was the hardest-hit (103.7 mph) and farthest projected distance (431 feet) on a homer on a Kershaw bender.

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Reynolds continued his hot start -- and broke a 1-1 tie, with a homer to left field with Arenado on base courtesy of a bloop single. Parra followed with his first of the year. Interestingly, Parra is a career .364 (12-for-33) hitter off Kershaw; the homer was his first, but he has three doubles and a . More >>

Kershaw (1-1), who was 10-0 in his previous 11 starts against the Rockies, gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out six in six innings.

"Knowing Clayton like I do from the other dugout, he's a tough customer -- as tough as anybody in the Major Leagues," said Rockies manager Bud Black, who faced Kershaw often while running the Padres 2007-15. "You've got to do everything you can, every at-bat. You've got to make it as hard on him as possible." More >>

Rockies righty starter Jon Gray held the Dodgers to one -- Andrew Toles' first homer of the season, with two out in the fifth -- on four hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Manager Bud Black gave Gray a shot at completing six, but Adrian Gonzalez singled. Mike Dunn (2-0) completed the inning and began a effort that ended with Greg

Holland's fourth save.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Switcheroo just in time: Black gave Carlos Gonzalez a rest from the lineup, then accidentally had his corner outfielders

-- Parra and Stephen Cardullo -- in the wrong positions. He corrected it, and it paid off when Parra, who started in his familiar left field, made a four-star play (32 percent catch expectancy) in the fourth, diving forward to grab a Yasiel

Puig liner to end the frame with two runners on base. He covered 33 feet in the opportunity time of 2.9 seconds. And the route was nearly perfect.

Did he know where the ball would land and how much time he had when it was hit?

"It's hard to say," Parra said. "There's adrenaline in baseball. I know when he hit it. I was thinking slide and go catch it.

There's only one opportunity. Catch it or drop it. It's good for me I caught it."

Parra also made a leaping catch to end the third on Corey Seager's drive. And Black's lineup move kept giving in the sixth when Cardullo, who ended up playing right and looked more comfortable there than left in Spring Training, made a sliding catch on a Kershaw liner.

Gray's escape: Gray had a high pitch count -- 96, with 53 strikes -- and just one , but hung in against what could become a marquee matchup if the Rockies improve their lot. But his biggest pitch may have come in the third, after

Kershaw led off with a single to left. Gray killed the momentum by forcing Toles into a double-play grounder to first.

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Even on a night of inefficiency, Gray left happy with the team's win and with holding the Dodgers to a single run.

"It's a lot of fun going up against a guy like [Kershaw]; it almost makes the game worth a lot more to you," Gray said. "It's a moment I cherish. If I get more of those opportunities, it's a good thing."

QUOTABLE

"After it happened, I think he knew it was a base-running mistake." -- Roberts, on Yasiel Puig caught stealing third base down three runs to end the seventh inning

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Rockies were part of other homer history against Kershaw. The last time he gave up more than one in an inning was

April 26, 2009, to the Rockies' Clint Barmes and Ryan Spilborghs.

Word may get around that running on Rockies catcher Dustin Garneau is not a great idea. In parts of two seasons, he has throw out 12 of 27 runners on steal attempts.

WHAT'S NEXT

Dodgers: Kenta Maeda starts in Sunday's 12:10 p.m. PT series finale and has been effective against the Rockies, going

2-2 with a 1.90 ERA in four career starts. But the Dodgers are 0-2 this year and were 22-24 last year against left-handed starters.

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Rockies savor big night against Dodgers' ace

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | 1:15 AM ET

DENVER -- Rockies Nolan Arenado didn't just strategize about facing Dodgers star left-hander Clayton

Kershaw on Saturday night. He practically meditated about it.

"I kind of set myself up, I told myself: 'This is what I'm going to do today. I'm going to commit to it every at-bat,' and that's what I did," Arenado said. "I'm not going to say exactly what I did but it paid off in the first at-bat."

Maybe the Rockies have osmosis working. Arenado clubbed a rare homer off a Kershaw curveball --the fourth since Statcast™ began tracking in 2015 -- in the first inning. In the sixth, Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra hit consecutive homers -- the first time that had occurred in Kershaw's career -- as the Rockies took a 4-2 victory at Coors

Field.

The successful approaches of Rockies' hitters was every bit as notable as the rare trivia. Kershaw has gone 10-

0 in his last 11 starts against them, but these Rockies forced him out of the game after managing eight hits in six innings.

Arenado added a bloop single in the sixth, which made Reynolds' homer a two-run shot. Charlie Blackmon, who entered

2-for-19, tripled and singled. Trevor Story finished the night at .190 but he bested Kershaw for his third double. Then there were the homers.

"We put some good swings on him," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "There was the breaking ball that Nolan hit, and the next two homers were fastballs that we just got on top of. They were barreled up. That doesn't happen.

"He chewed us up a few times inside. The slider was good, as usual. We just stayed on him and squared up a couple balls."

Kershaw wasn't himself, but he still showed good stuff. He struck out six with no walks, and to score the Rockies had to hit home runs.

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"I think my stuff is fine," Kershaw said. "I just had some bad pitches there and tonight they went over the fence. It wasn't great obviously but I don't know. I'm going to try and get better for the next one."

Reynolds' homer was his third during a hot start, as he's now hitting .409.

"You know how baseball is," Reynolds said. "You know you can play here. You get a couple hits, get some confidence and ride it out as long as you can do it."

Parra had two hits off Kershaw to bring his career average against him to .364. But Parra cherishes every hit.

"He's the best pitcher right now in the big leagues," said Parra, who said he had no idea why he happily tapped his batting helmet as he rounded first base on the homer. "I just wanted to put the ball in play. I don't want to try to do too much. I know he's a nasty pitcher."

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Confident Estevez proving unflappable

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | 1:15 AM ET

DENVER -- Rockies righty reliever Carlos Estevez faced a situation Friday that could've tested his resolve.

Estevez entered in the seventh with the Rockies leading the Dodgers, 2-1, after lefty starter Kyle Freeland's successful six innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had saved dangerous left-handed bats. But facing Corey Seager or, two batters later, Andrew wasn't going to get into Estevez's head.

Estevez's mind was buoyed by the story of Apple founder Steve Jobs. He was strengthened by learning of the successes and failures of future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. A Dominican Republic native, Estevez also takes the mound with inspirational knowledge in his native tongue, thanks to Borja Luzuriaga and his popular YouTube series, "LuzuVlogs: El

Camino del Exito," or "the walk of success."

"I love motivational books and videos," said Estevez, who gave up a hit to Seager and committed a one-out balk, but put the inning down with no runs, and was part of the 2-1 victory. "I love stories of people who have had to go through tough times."

Many athletes embrace inspiration and psychology. But players from Latin America who don't have English backgrounds can miss out. Estevez, 24, makes sure he gets all that's available.

"My parents always taught me that when you move up, a lot of things change, and you've got to be receptive to learning whatever can help you," said Estevez, who spent his junior year of high school in West Virginia and learned English.

Last spring, before he rose to the Majors and ended up the team's closer for a period despite limited experience above

Double-A, Josh Rosenthal, the rockies' supervisor of cultural education development, offered a book where motivation meets fiction: "The Traveler's Gift," by Andy Andrews.

"The last two weeks of spring, I just started reading and I couldn't stop," he said. "The lesson was sometimes we take everything for granted. But if you stop working, you're going to lose all of it. And if you have nothing, just don't give up."

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His motivational mentor is Rockies first-base coach Tony Diaz, who managed him at Rookie Grand Junction in 2013.

When Estevez graduated to , an injury led to a slump, which led to a text from Diaz.

"It was something that Mariano said -- that even the best in the game have their failure," Estevez said, smiling.

During his 17 seasons in the Rockies' Minor League system, Diaz recognized the language gap for Latino players when it came to psychological and inspirational material and bridged the gap, even when they no longer played for him.

"We talk about it all the time, that to be great you've got to have a consistent thought process," Diaz said of Estevez, who was clocked at greater than 100 mph on his fastball several times last year. "He's understands the value of it and knows that you can throw 100, you can throw 110, but you need your mental fortitude."

Worth noting

• Rockies lefty Chris Rusin could be back from his right oblique injury soon. Manager Bud Black said the Rockies will decide "in the next 24-48 hours, whether he continues on a rehab or not." Rusin threw an effective 42 pitches over 2 2/3 innings of relief Thursday for Triple-A Albuquerque.

• Righty Chad Qualls (right forearm soreness), who last pitched on March 1 in Spring Training, faced hitters Saturday at

Coors. "It looks as though his stuff is Chad Qualls-like -- good sinker, hard slider and a change," said Black, who said

Qualls will begin a rehab assignment soon.

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Anderson looks to neutralize Dodgers' hitters

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | April 8th, 2017

DENVER -- The Dodgers are facing a left-handed starter on Sunday, so without even knowing the name they're in tough.

After going 22-24 against left-handed starters last year, they already are 0-2 against them this season.

Tyler Anderson is the lucky lefty for the Rockies. Anderson is not afraid of the strike zone, even against right-handed hitters. in 20 Major League starts, he has 85 to 20 walks against righties -- 22 and nine against lefties.

The Dodgers counter Anderson with Kenta Maeda, who has pitched effectively against Colorado. He is 2-2 with a 1.90

ERA in four career starts and at Coors Field 2-2 with a 2.12 ERA.

Three things to know about this game:

• Dodgers Logan Forsythe is likely to return to the lineup after being replaced on Saturday night by

Chase Utley. Forsythe is off to a slow start with his new club, batting .167 with eight strikeouts in 18 at-bats.

• With Alex Wood starting on Monday, Ross Stripling is the Dodgers long reliever. He retired all four batters he faced

Friday and manager Dave Roberts said he trusts Stripling in high-leverage situations.

• Anderson is 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in three starts against the Dodgers, beating them twice last August with a no-decision in September.

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Black looking for Rockies eyes to improve at the plate; Chris Rusin and Chad Qualls progress Nolan Arenado a good example for Rockies

By Nick Groke / Denver Post | April 8th, 2017

Nolan Arenado‘s run-scoring double in the Rockies’ home-opener Friday afternoon gave him at least a hit in the first five games this season. Then he hit a wall.

The all-star third baseman struck out in his next three at-bats, flashing some frustration. Up until then, he hadn’t struck out this season. His plate discipline sets up his power.

After taking a walk in the early innings Thursday at Milwaukee, he forced Brewers reliever Neftali Feliz to pitch in the strike zone in the ninth inning. Arenado turned it into a go-ahead solo home run to deep left-center field.

“You look at the great hitters of all time — they take their walks,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “Their pitch recognition, their control of the strike zone, is something that makes them very good hitters.”

The National League’s home run leader the past two seasons, with 42 and 41, Arenado also compiled three impressive defensive stops in the first five games, including a dive grab Friday that likely saved a run and got rookie pitcher Kyle

Freeland out of a tough third inning. His RBI double was helped by reputation.

“What happens, pitchers realize you have to throw strikes to these guys,” Black said. “If you don’t they’re going to take it and they’re going to walk.”

Story on the other side. Colorado Trevor Story, though, has not found control of his strike zone. His eight strikeouts in five games leads the team. “Now we need a few other guys to jump on board with that (plate discipline),”

Black said.

More bullpen arms coming. Lefty long man Chris Rusin (rib muscle strain), who pitched a scoreless 2 2/3 innings

Thursday in a rehab outing for Triple-A Albuquerque, might return to the Rockies without a second minor-league outing,

Black said.

The Rockies will decide on his timeline by Monday. His 2.58 ERA as a reliever last season was the best in Colorado’s bullpen. His return to the Rockies likely will mean right-hander German Marquez returns to Albuquerque.

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Veteran right-hander Chad Qualls (forearm strain) threw a simulated game at Coors Field on Saturday afternoon, pitching to Stephen Cardullo, Cristhian Adames and Alexi Amarista. The Rockies will send him on a rehab assignment in the next couple days.

“Looks as though his stuff was Chad Qualls-like,” Black said. “Good sinker, hard slider and a change.”

Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.40 ERA) at Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-0, 7.94), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., ROOT,

850 AM

Maeda, the Dodgers’ second-year right-hander, tore through the Rockies in Colorado last season, including a three-hit scoreless effort, with eight strikeouts and just one walk, over 6 1/3 innings on April 23. He beat them again at Coors Field in early August. Then on Aug. 29, the Rox finally poked at Maeda enough in Denver to bounce him after five innings, on four hits and two runs, on their way to an 8-1 blowout of the Dodgers. the key was the top of Colorado’s order: Charlie

Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu together went 5-for-10 in that game. Nick Groke, The Denver Post

Monday: Padres RHP Trevor Cahill (0-1, 3.18 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (0-1, 6.00), 6:40 p.m., ROOT

Tuesday: Padres RHP Jered Weaver (0-1, 7.20) at Rockies RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 0.00), 6:40 p.m., ROOT

Wednesday: Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (0-0, 8.44) at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-0, 1.50), 1:10 p.m., ROOT

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Rockies shock Clayton Kershaw with a homer-heavy upset at Coors Field Rockies bludgeon the same Kershaw who no-hit them in 2014

By Nick Groke / Denver Post | April 8th, 2017

Gerardo Parra did not wait for kudos rounding first base in the sixth inning. He patted himself on the head, twice. The

Rockies’ squat — “a pest,” his general manager called him — nailed a center-served pitch from the best lefty in baseball over the center-field wall and into Coors Field’s forest.

Parra’s brawny swat back-ended an improbable inning in the Rockies’ 4-2 takedown of three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers with a sold-out Coors Field crowd of 48,012. Immediately before him, Colorado Mark Reynolds lofted a two-run homer to center field.

“I was just happy in the moment,” Parra said. “He’s the best pitcher right now in the big leagues. I know it’s nasty pitching.

Every inning, we try to put a man on base because we know he’s special. We know it’s not easy to score on him.”

This, please remember, is the same Kershaw who no-hit the Rockies in 2014 with one of the greatest-pitched games in baseball history, when he struck out 15 and walked none and left Troy Tulowitzki’s mouth hanging open and his arms dangling over the dugout fence.

Kershaw is a master on the mound, with a hitchy windup and a pitch arsenal that confuses even the best hitters in the game.

The Rockies did not wait for his mistakes. Third baseman Nolan Arenadohit a two-out home run off Kershaw in the first inning. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon tripled in the third and shortstop Trevor Story doubled in the fourth. Blackmon’s triple was the first against Kershaw in nearly a year.

“He’s a tough customer,” Colorado manager Bud Black. “As tough as anybody in the major leagues. You have to do everything you can, every at-bat you have to do anything possible.”

BOXSCORE: Rockies 4, Dodgers 2

The back-to-back shots from Reynolds and Parra in the sixth were the first consecutive homers allowed by Kershaw in his

10-year career. It was just his third multihomer inning, the first since 2009, when Rockies Clint Barmes and Ryan

Spilborghs did it against him at Coors Field. Kershaw only gave up three home runs within a month twice in the previous two seasons. 11

In their home-opener Friday, the Rockies nibbled to a 2-1 win over the Dodgers. They beat the Brewers 2-1, too, on

Thursday. Colorado had not won consecutive 2-1 games since 1995.

But this, in a young season, is some kind of revamped Rockies. Their bullpen, so maligned a year ago, shut down the

Dodgers again with scoreless appearances from Mike Dunn and Adam Ottavino. Jake McGee, who struck out the side

Friday in the ninth inning, gave up a run on Adrian Gonzalez’s single to right in the eighth. But closer Greg Holland struck out two in a hitless ninth.

And Jon Gray, the Rockies’ 25-year-old answer to Kershaw, gave up just one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Gray’s pregame scouting report and pep talk from Rockies manager Bud Black did not include the other guy.

“Jon knows who he is going against,” Black said. “You know what, I think Kershaw knows who he is going against too.

This is a marquee matchup.”

Only Andrew Toles’ two-out solo homer off Gray — he was nearly to third base before Toles realized his looper carried past the fence — was the only run the right-hander allowed.

Black made a last-minute defensive switch, flipping Parra and Stephen Cardullo in the corner outfield spots. It paid off.

Parra tracked back on a sprint to steal a Corey Seager line drive at the track in the third, then dove in on a Yasiel Puig liner in the fourth. And Cardullo slid on his knees to keep Gray alive in the fifth on a Kershaw blooper.

“It’s tough going against a guy like that,” Gray said of his counterpart. “He definitely makes the game worth more.”

In improving to 5-1 — and atop the National League West, a division won the by Dodgers in each of the past four seasons

— the Rockies are winning every which way: powerful starting pitching, reliable relief work, home runs, timely hits and stellar defense.

And one big victory over the Dodgers’ ace.

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Valaika goes cycling again for Isotopes Shortstop’s second cycle leads Albuquerque over Salt Lake

By Chris Jackson / Purple Row | Apr 9, 2017, 9:00am MDT

Pat Valaika had a tough 28-game stretch with the Albuquerque Isotopes last season, save for one contest back on

August 22 against Fresno.

Valaika hit for the cycle that game, the sixth in Isotopes history and second of the season after Tom Murphy had done it earlier.

After his team mustered just three hits in a loss on Friday night, Valaika went cycling again, completing the feat by his fourth at-bat in the fifth inning of the Isotopes’ 12-5 victory over the visiting Salt Lake Bees.

“It was a good day,” Valaika said. “I didn’t do anything different than I have been doing. I got my pitch and tonight I didn’t miss my pitch. I was just fortunate they fell and I hit them in good spots.”

Valaika ripped an RBI double to right field in the first inning to put Albuquerque (2-1) ahead after Raimel Tapia had led off with a single to center. Valaika advanced to third on a groundout and then scored on a wild pitch before Noel Cuevas hit a solo home run for a 3-0 lead.

In the second inning, Valaika crushed a towering three-run homer to left field.

In the fourth inning, Valaika smoked a bases-clearing triple into the right-center gap. He then scored on another wild pitch to make it 10-3.

In the fifth inning, Valaika did not get to drive in a run, but he did bloop an opposite-field single to shallow right field to complete the cycle.

“I knew I needed to hit a single, but I don’t know many guys who go up there and just try to hit singles,” Valaika said. “I kind of figured if I hit a single, I hit a single, if I hit a double, that’s cool, too.”

The Bees (1-2) did not retire Valaika until the seventh inning, when center fielder Shane Robinson had to make a running, underhand catch of a looping liner to center.

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“It’s very good to see him make solid contact,” manager Glenallen Hill said of Valaika. “That home run, it was with two strikes, he hit a hanging breaking ball.”

Throw in plenty of sparkling defense at shortstop, and Valaika had quite the night.

“That’s probably where most of my innings have been played in my career, so I’m comfortable there,” he said. “I’m comfortable at pretty much all four () spots. I played a lot of third base in spring training, so it’s nice to get a lot more comfortable there. I think the plan is to still move around.”

In terms of Triple-A appearances, Valaika’s cycles came 17 games apart.

“I think he has the ability to stay in the moment and his energy is the same on a daily basis, so that helps his consistency,”

Hill said.

The rest of the Isotopes did their part with the bats, too, racking up an additional 12 hits. Cuevas went 3-for-4, while Tapia, Rafael Ynoa and Mike Tauchman had two hits apiece. Tauchman extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a third inning single.

“We had a good day of preparation today all around,” Hill said. “They had a lot of energy and excitement and I think that carried over into the game.”

Zach Jemiola earned his first Triple-A win despite allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three in

5.2 innings.

“I saw he was aggressive up until the fourth inning and in the fourth inning he had a couple of at-bats where he pitched soft and got away from his game a little bit,” Hill said. “But he has such a competitive nature that he was able to right the ship, make the adjustments and give us a couple more innings.”

Albuquerque native Austin House also made his season debut, sandwiching two strikeouts around a weak groundout to shortstop.

“Well, he’s always impressed me with his ability to attack the zone,” Hill said. The Isotopes will look to clinch a series victory today at 1:35 p.m. Lefty Harrison Musgrave gets the nod against right-hander Drew Gagnon.

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Rockies beat Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers 4-2 The Rockies hit three home runs off of Kershaw in the victory.

By Eric Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | Apr 8, 2017, 9:13pm MDT

This was fairly expected: The Rockies and Dodgers were mired in a 1-1 tie after five innings. It was a duel between Jon

Gray and Clayton Kershaw. The Rockies got on the board in the first inning when Nolan Arenado took a 75 mph hanging curveball out of the park. The Dodgers got on the board in the fifth. Andrew Toles, budding Rockies killer, hit a solo shot of his own.

This was less expected. The Rockies went on what qualifies as a home run barrage against Kershaw in the sixth.

Arenado blooped a single to lead off the inning, and Mark Reynoldsbrought him home with a dinger to left-center.

Then, Gerardo Parra—Gerardo Parra!—hit a home run to dead center. That gave the Rockies the 4-1 lead.

The back-to-back home runs were the first time that Kershaw had ever allowed two in a row. It was only the third time he gave up more than one homer in an inning.

Gray also suffered his own struggles after the fifth inning. He wasn’t very sharp overall. His command was off, and he only struck out one batter. But the Dodgers only mustered one run. After an infield single with one out in the sixth, he yielded to

1 the bullpen. Gray wrapped up having allowed one run in 5 ⁄3 innings pitched. He gave up four hits, walked three, and struck out one.

The Rockies bullpen, again, was excellent. Tonight, Mike Dunn, Adam Ottavino, Jake McGee, and Greg

2 Holland combined to throw 3 ⁄3 innings, allowing one run (off McGee in the eighth). In six games so far this season, the bullpen has thrown 21 innings and allowed just four runs. The rotation will have to start doing its part to give more length, but at least tonight, the bats did their job and scored enough to secure the 4-2 victory. The Rockies are now 5-1 on the season. What a start.

The Rockies and Dodgers will finish the three-game set tomorrow afternoon. Kenta Maedastarts for the Dodgers, and Tyler Anderson gets the ball for the Rockies. Game time is 1:10 p.m. MT.

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The Rockies are winning without heroes Bud Black doesn’t attribute the Rockies’ early success to any one thing.

By Eric Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | Apr 8, 2017, 9:13pm MDT

DENVER—After beating the Dodgers 4-2 Saturday night, the Rockies improved to 5-1 on the season. They’re off to about as good of a start as they could have hoped for. The Rockies are in first place (though they’re not alone there, as the Diamondbacks are also 5-1), and they’ve already clinched the series against the Dodgers. It’s early, yes, but the wins count all the same.

But Bud Black and the Rockies aren’t about to rest on their laurels. They know that they’ve been getting wins without the team firing on all cylinders. That’s what good teams do though. That’s what makes them full functioning teams.

Asked about the back-to-back home runs Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra hit off of Dodgers starter Clayton

Kershaw—he didn’t allow back-to-back home runs over the course of the first 6,967 batters he’s faced in his career—

Black said that “Mark Reynolds is swinging great. Parra is swining great.” Both statements are true. But Black added more: “When you start the season obviously you’d like to have all eight guys swinging well, but that doesn’t happen. You know at some point during the year we’re going to have other guys swinging well. That’s the nature of this game.”

The Rockies powered their way to a win with two home runs from hot bats, but Black knows and is accounting for the outputs to change both for these two players and the guys who aren’t hitting well. Black continued: “We’ll talk about those guys when we get there. When we take the long view of the season, these two guys have really helped us here in the initial onset of the season.”

Black would rather attribute success to the team rather than any one individual. Reynolds and Parra lifted the team to a win on Saturday, but they can’t always be the ones to do it.

Black’s not ready to celebrate just yet. Through everything he says, he’s showing that he’s keenly aware that the Rockies are having some things go right, but not everything. “We’re getting enough hitting through the course of these games to supplement our pitching, which has been really solid,” Black said.

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“Solid” is a pretty good word to describe Jon Gray’s performance yesterday. It wasn’t spectacular, and it wasn’t awful. It was solid. When asked about the decision to remove Gray in the sixth inning with one out, Black stated that it was due to his pitch count as well as his uneven performance. “All night Jon was sort of in and out of grooves,” Black said. He continued to say that one point of improvement is his ball to strike ratio—53 of Gray’s 96 pitches were strikes.

Gray agreed with Black’s assessment. “It wasn’t my best day but I was happy to go out and compete really hard with my teammates behind me. They made a lot of things happen for me.” In particular, the defense and the bullpen helped keep the Rockies in the game. With a runner on first and nobody out, Mark Reynolds and Trevor Story helped turn a pretty 3-

6-3 double play to clear the bases. The next batter, Corey Seager, lined a ball to left field, and Parra caught it to end the frame. In the next inning, Parra made a diving catch with two runners on base to end the inning.

The bullpen also continued to be superb. Gray left a runner for Mike Dunn, but he didn’t move past first base. Jake

McGee allowed a run in the eighth but that was it. The bullpen propped the entire team up, not just Gray.

Everyone else did make a lot of things happen for Gray. The “pick your teammate up” mentality Black expressed after the game seems to have made its way to the players. “It’s good to see these types of games won by our guys,” Black said.

The players would agree, and they might even use those same words.

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Colorado Rockies Morning After: Jon Gray vs. Clayton Kershaw Recap

By JD Jensen / Rox Pile | Apr 8, 2017, 9:13pm MDT

The pulled off a huge win against the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday by a final score of 4-2. The

Rockies now are 5-1 on the season, while the Dodgers fall to 3-3. That’s right. The Rockies won a game featuring a future ace and an all-time great. Here’s how it happened:

Once again, Nolan Arenado has been a deciding factor in last nights’ game.

Nolan was, once again, being Nolan. The superstar third basemen got the Rockies off to a 1-0 start in the first inning from a solo home run to deep center field. That seemed to really throw off the rest of Kershaw’s game. For one, it is a true testament to the greatness of Kershaw on how he was struggling, but still put in a really good performance. However,

Arenado gave the Rockies a major momentum swing early to start off the game. He was also on base when Mark

Reynolds launched a home run into the seats in left center. The effect Arenado had on the game was huge, offensively and defensively.

Home runs as a whole played a huge part in this ball game. In fact, every run scored was due to a home run. Besides the bombs from Arenado and Reynolds, Gerardo Parra also hit a solo home run late in the game to cushion the Rockies’ advantage. The Blake Street Bombers have always been reliant on the mile high air to win games. Tonight, even against one of the best in the game, was no different.

Jon Gray outpitched Clayton Kershaw.

Jon Gray has suddenly become a future ace in the minds of baseball analysts everywhere. Last night, those people have gained evidence in their argument. Gray threw 5.1 innings with one earned run and only four total hits allowed. That’s much better than Kershaw’s four earned runs on eight hits in only 6 innings.

To be more specific, Gray had excellent command of his fastball. He did a particularly good job at keeping the ball low and forcing a lot of ground balls. That is especially important to do in Coors Field. Planning in the near future, Gray’s ability to keep the ball in the lower half of the zone can make him a really effective pitcher even when pitching at home.

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Gray was pitching to contact tonight, and the defense stepped up. With well planned defensive schemes and shifts, Gray was able to have an effective outing while only recording one strikeout. Many expected Kershaw would win the pitching duel, and the Rockies would have to come back from behind to win the ball game. However, Gray has done excellent keeping the Rockies in the lead and giving them the advantage late in the game.

To be completely transparent, this performance was not expected by me or almost any other baseball analyst.

Gerardo Parra made a potential game-saving catch in the 4th inning.

Sure, it was only the fourth inning … but Parra made a spectacular catch that could have altered the entire game. With two outs and runners on first and second, Parra made an amazing catch, going in on a line drive and laying out to end the inning.

You could tell Parra had a moment where he had to decide what to do. If he doesn’t lay out, the runner on second will probably make it home to tie up the game at 1-1. Diving became the more likable possibility.

Then, the game changes in that fraction of a second. If he makes the catch, Gray gets out of the inning unharmed. If he missed it, the ball goes to the fence, scoring two and possibly having another runner on third. Then Los Angeles has the lead.

In other words, that catch meant two runs, the exact number of runs the Rockies ended up winning by. In conclusion, this catch really did save the day. Add that to a great day at the plate, which included a home run, and Parra now looks like one of the most important players in last night’s game.

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Colorado Rockies Reserves Anchoring the Lineup While Stars Struggle

By Quinn Ritzdorf / Rox Pile | Apr 8, 2017, 9:13pm MDT

As outfielder David Dahl and first baseman went down with injuries during Spring Training, Colorado

Rockies fans everywhere expected the talented stars in the lineup to make up for their absences.

No one expected that the bottom of the lineup would be the ones to make the big hits and bring in the runs.

At the same time the top of the lineup that everyone has been talking about, has been virtually non-existent.

In the season-opening series against the , the top five players in the Rockies lineup hit for a combined

13-for-75. That’s a .173 batting average.

Fortunately the Rockies went 3-1 in the series against the Brewers. This was in large part due to the pitching, but more importantly the stellar play of the four players at the bottom of the lineup.

When Desmond broke his hand, he was replaced by first baseman Mark Reynolds. Through the season’s first five games, Reynolds was 7-for-18 with six RBI and two homers.

In left field, Gerardo Parra has taken over for Dahl after he injured his sixth rib in Spring Training. The back-up left fielder has gone 6-for-15 with four RBI over that same span.

At catcher, Tony Wolters played the first three games of the series before Dustin Garneau took over for the final game. The other back-up, Tom Murphy, broke his forearm in Spring Training. It hasn’t mattered, as the combined duo of

Wolters and Garneau have gone 5-for-16.

Overall, the production of the unlikely back-ups, batting a combined .367, have kept the Rockies in games and are the main reason they started the season 4-1.

If the Rockies want to have the great season that they are looking for, the stars of the lineup need to step up. Hitting a combined .173 might be enough to beat the Brewers, but not the best of the National League West.

If they want to compete with the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, they need MVP plate performances from their stars.

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It will be an added bonus if the back-ups continue their production. If they do, they will make a case to stay in the lineup when the starters return.

I could see Desmond playing left field when he returns while Reynolds stays at first. That would mean that Parra would come off the bench.

Who knows what the Rockies will do when Dahl returns? However, having talented bench players is a good problem to have.

The Rockies will definitely be tested against the Dodgers this weekend, but hopefully the top of the lineup will perform to expectations, while the bottom of the lineup continues to exceed them.

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The Colorado Rockies bullpen: Once a weakness, now a strength

By Ronnie Kohrt / Mile High Sports | April 9, 2017

After a surge on offense on Saturday night, hammering at Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, the Colorado

Rockies turned to their bullpen to close the door and once again, they slammed it shut.

Last season, the Rockies bullpen was a liability. So far in this young 2017 season, it has been a weapon.

The Rockies were 12-20 last year in one-run games, 26th in the majors as a team in that statistic. But a new year, under new leadership, has turned the page and the Rockies are finding strength in their bullpen, who have won their first five games this season by two runs or less, even amidst their starting pitchers averaging 5.2 innings a start.

“I know these games can be chaotic at times,” said manager Bud Black, who talked about his Rockies winning close games. “We’re pitching well. We’re playing great defense as you saw tonight with the number of great plays we had.

We’re getting enough hitting through the course of these games to supplement our pitching, which has been really solid… It’s good to see these types of games won by our guys.”

It’s those types of games that the Rockies of 2016, generally didn’t win. That’s the past and this is the now. This bullpen is for real. A brand new pair of arms shooting life into the staff has the unit firing on all cylinders. The Rockies bullpen has faced 21 innings of work in 2017 and averages more than a strikeout an inning, with only four earned runs allowed.

Closer Greg Holland leads the league in saves. While all these impressive early numbers would lead you to think they’re developing a little bit of a confident swagger about them, the bullpen is staying humble and knows, they have to be consistent over a period of time.

Holland, the new anchor to the bullpen, spoke about his confidence. “I feel good. It’s still early in the season, but I like the start,” said the Rockies closer, who collected his fourth save in as many attempts.

Holland also talked about his arsenal, saying “I like to mix it up, for me as a reliever throwing three or four pitches, some days I will utilize one, some day I’ll utilize the other. That’s something that a lot of times you don’t know til you start warming up.”

Staying consistent as a unit is key and Holland touched on how they will do that. 22

“Keep the same mindset. Keep preparing like the way we have been. Keep expecting to perform at a high level,” said

Holland, who struck out two Saturday night. “I don’t care how good your bullpen is. You’re going to go through stretches where collective, you struggle a little bit… You want to stay on that day-to-day mentality.”

Holland spoke highly about his defense behind him, as well as the offense in Colorado: “It’s part of the reason I signed here. You look at a team with a very talented line-up top-to-bottom, but also a really good defense, and as a pitcher, that’s what you want.”

The Rockies back-end anchor also touched on his manager Bud Black and how he’s helped the bullpen progress.

“He gives us that confidence as a whole in the bullpen,” said Holland, who spoke on his coaching staff keeping arms fresh and not burned out. “They’re very vocal, as far as guys needing days off, guys needing rest, especially early in the season, because you want to be at full strength in September and October.”

Newcomer Mike Dunn, who collected his second win of the season Saturday night, is a fan of how the bullpen is being handled.

“It’s awesome, it’s good to see how everyone is being used,” said the left-handed Dunn, who also talked about the need to stay consistent and his excitement for this team’s potential. “You’re going to go through rough patches here and there.

You ride it while it’s hot, it’s going to be fun when this team gets clicking on all cylinders.”

Dunn struck out a batter in two-thirds an inning Saturday, bringing his total to seven strikeouts on the season in four innings of relief work.

Let’s call it like it is. The Rockies bullpen was bad last year. The Rockies will score runs on offense. We know that.

Pitching however, particularly the bullpen, has always been the Achilles Heel in the past, keeping them from consistent success. If they pair a high-powered offense, next to a rebuilt bullpen that has made the transformation to a strength of the Rockies, we could see a strong year of success that this franchise has been salivating for. But can they stay consistent? That’s the last question only answered in time, however early results are very positive, and you can’t ask for more than that.

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Mark Reynolds is more than just an insurance policy for the Rockies

By Aniello Piro / Mile High Sports | April 9, 2017

When the Colorado Rockies re-signed veteran first basemen Mark Reynolds in the offseason, many believed it was an insurance policy for the experiment of fellow signee Ian Desmond.

Well, now five games into the 2017 season Reynold’s has been more than an insurance policy for Colorado, he’s been a force.

Already Reynolds has managed to blast three home runs for the Rockies, while compiling a batting average of .381. In addition, Reynolds has driven in eight runs for the Rockies this season, which is good for second best in the sport.

The offensive potential mixed with crafty play at first base are exact reasons as to why Colorado pulled the trigger to bring

Reynolds back to the Mile High City for another go-around.

“[We’re] thankful that we have him,” Rockies General Manager Jeff Bridich said earlier in the week. “It was kind of a long and interesting road for him to come back here [to Colorado]. He had some other things that he was weighing. Obviously, we signed Ian Desmond to play first base, but we had a lot of conversations over the winter time, even prior to the season ending last year about how he felt about this organization, how we felt about him and what could be his role here and just his contribution to the club. I think there was a lot of seeing eye to eye.”

The red-hot start is nothing out of the ordinary for Reynolds, it’s rather about finding his stroke at the right time.

“You get a couple hits and you gain some confidence,” Reynolds said. “You ride it out as long as you can do it. Once that ball gets rolling you just try to bottle it up and see how long it lasts.”

That said, Reynolds has not been the only Rockies player to start the season off on a good note. Rather, the Rockies team collectively has coasted to a 5-1 record. The hitting is performing per usual; however, the pitching has been sharp which has been the deciding factor for the rox so far. With that, the level that Colorado is playing at currently is one

Reynolds fully expected.

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“We had a different feeling in Spring Training,” Reynolds said. “We knew we had a good squad. Our pitchers are maturing, the starters, our bullpen obviously with a bunch of veterans down there know what they are doing, and our offense is our offense. Our offense is one of the best in the league. It’s really nice to see that confidence we had in Spring

Training carry over to the start of the season and get off to a hot start.

“Hopefully, we can just keep riding this thing as long as we got our guys throwing good and hitting good. It’s a good combination right now.”

Overall, the Rockies are sizzling right now, largely in part due to Reynold’s hot start on both ends of the spectrum. The minor league contract Reynolds’s signed over the summer is quickly paying dividends. Initially thought of as insurance at first base, Reynolds has taken off to start the season which has helped push the Rockies forward in the 2017 campaign.

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HIGHLIGHTS: Jon Gray, bullpen outduel Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | April 9, 2017

Jon Gray pitched 5.1 solid innings for the Colorado Rockies in a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night at Coors Field. Clayton Kershaw also pitched 5.1 stellar innings, but it was what happened after that point that handed the three-time Cy Young Award winner his first loss in 2017 that made the difference.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and the game tied at one, Kershaw allowed back-to-back home runs for the first time in his major-league career. Mark Reynolds scored Nolan Arenado when he drove a 91-MPH slider over the fence in left-center. (Arenado gave Colorado a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo shot to center.) Three pitches later, Gerardo

Parra sent a 92-MPH fastball over the center field wall to extend Colorado’s lead to 4-1. Reynolds’ home run ties him for the major league lead with three.

Gray was not his dominant self in the victory, striking out just one and walking three, but he was effective enough against the potent Dodgers lineup. He allowed four hits and just one run, a home run to Andrew Toles, in his second no-decision of the year. Mike Dunn earned the win after closing out the sixth inning for Gray. Adam Ottavino and Jake McGee each eared a hold, pitching one inning apiece. McGee surrendered one run one two hits. Greg Holland earned his MLB-leading fourth save of the young season, striking out two Dodgers in the ninth.

The win earns the Rockies a series victory after defeating Los Angeles 2-1 on Friday in the home opener. The game was

Colorado’s second sellout in as many games, the first time the first two games of the season were sold out since 1998 according to the team. Tyler Anderson will be on the mound for Colorado as they go for the series sweep on Sunday. First pitch is 1:10 p.m. MDT.

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Adam Ottavino says Rockies bullpen is “best thing I’ve ever been a part of”

By Andrew Dill / BSN Denver | April 9, 2017

The Colorado Rockies have been a team tied with uncertainty; mainly dealing with issues in the bullpen and the starting rotation over the past few years. Heck, the last the last twenty years. However, the tide is starting to change at 20th and

Blake.

The bullpen was the main cause for concern last season. The Rockies had the second best batting average in the Majors

(.275) and the second most runs batted in (805) In 2016 — only behind the Boston Red Sox. The main concern — the

Rockies blew 28 saves — tied for third worst in the Majors.

As far as 2017 goes, the bullpen has done everything you could ask from it. Granted we are just six games in to the regular season, Colorado has given up just four runs over 21.0 innings pitched — good for an ERA of 1.71. Not to mention, the Rockies are holding the opposition to an average of .174, recording 30 strikeouts over 21.0 innings pitched.

One of the main contributors last season, Adam Ottavino, is loving the direction Colorado is going.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever been apart of. I’m just excited to be apart of it.” he said. “I don’t want to be the guy to let us down. I think thats how everybody feels. It’s crazy right now, it’s exciting. It’s going to be a strength for this team.”

Ottavino served as the teams primary closer last season. However, with the addition of Greg Holland this past offseason, he has taken the backseat as a set-up man/specialist.

When a team, such as the Rockies, loses quite a bit, the tempers and frustrations start to boil over. Not with Ottavino, however, as he has taken an optimistic approach.

“When you lose five seasons in a row, what matters after that?” Ottavino said. “We are off to a great start, we just got to keep it up for another five and a half months. And I think we can.”

If they can keep this up for another five-and-a-half months, Rockies fans are in for a phenomenal summer and the

National League is in for a surprise. 27

Rockies make history, Gray outduels Kershaw in Colorado

By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | April 8, 2017

DENVER – As we expected it would be, the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers were locked in a tight pitchers duel at 20th and Blake between Jon Gray and Clayton Kershaw on Saturday. The former is an emerging ace, trying to make his name in one of the most difficult environments in the history of baseball. The latter has already laid claim to the title of “Greatest Pitcher of a Generation.” But it was the Rockies youngster who got the better of the evening, and the

Rockies offense who made history against one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game on the way to a 4-2 victory at 20th and Blake.

Nolan Arenado got to Kershaw in the bottom of the first hitting a solo home run on a hanging curveball. He smacked it over 430 feet.

The Rockies flashed the leather in the outfield as the two players who swapped defensive positions before the game, Gerardo Parra and Stephen Cardullo, each made diving catches in the outfield, the former likely saving a pair of runs on what was his second fantastic play of the game.

But just one batter after Carullo’s effort, Andrew Toles finally got to Gray and drove one just barely over the left-field fence to tie the game at one. That was the only run Gray gave up in the game in a game where he showed far more grit and heart than he did the natural talent he possesses.

He didn’t have his best stuff, struggling with command and only managing one strikeout. He couldn’t put some hitters away when he got ahead and had to settle for weak contact instead of swing-and-miss stuff at times, but it is a testament to the kind of pitcher that he has become that he only allowed one run to an incredibly talented Dodgers lineup despite not being at his best. His final line of five-and-one-thirds innings, four hits, one run, three walks, and one strikeout is decent but no dominant. When put in context, however, it’s pretty special that he went toe-to-toe with Kershaw in a battle in downtown Denver. The Wolf of Blake Street, indeed.

In fact, the Rockies got to Kershaw in the very next half-inning after Mike Dunn kept the scoreboard clean for Gray. After a bloop single from Arenado, the Rockies hero of the 2017 season so far — Mark Reynolds — hit a two-run home run off the prodigious lefty to give the home team a 3-1 lead, once again traveling over 400 feet. A few pitches later, Gerardo

Parra hit his first home run of the season, showing even more positive signs that he could be well on the way to a rebound season, the third shot of over 400 feet a worthy knockout punch.

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It was the first time any team has ever hit back-to-back home runs off Kershaw and suddenly, a game that had been uncomfortably tight for everyone involved became a 4-1 affair.

Adam Ottavino came on in the seventh (what a luxury that is) and worked around a Yasiel Puig double, striking out a pair to keep the Dodgers from rallying.

Jake McGee replaced Ottavino and gave up a lead-off double to Franklin Gutierrez. He was close to working completely out of it, getting Corey Seager and Justin Turner out with relative ease, usually not an easy task. But Adrian

Gonzalez grounded a two-out single up the middle to make it 4-2. McGee bounced right back, though, striking out Scott

Van Slyke emphatically to limit the damage.

Greg Holland strolled to his first save at Coors Field. Well, his first in the home uniform anyway, he secured one for the

Kansas City Royals in 2014. Holland has allowed just one baserunner so far in 2017; a walk. He has struck out six and, of course, has not allowed a run in converting four consecutive save opportunities.

The Rockies are now 5-1 but could easily be 1-5 without Parra and Reynolds, two players who were replaced in the starting lineup this offseason; one by a rookie in David Dahl and the other by the controversial $70 million man in Ian

Desmond. But clearly neither guy took it personally and they are holding this offense together while the big bats (other than Arenado) get into a rhythm.

The Rockies can thank the bottom of their lineup and their new-and-improved bullpen for their record. And right now, they look like a team that nobody wants to see once they get fully healthy. Or even before then.

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Kershaw gives up back-to-back homers for 1st time in career

By Associated Press / ESPN.com | April 8, 2017

DENVER -- Clayton Kershaw left a slider up -- gone. Three pitches later, he grooved a fastball -- same result.

He just stared at the dirt in disbelief.

The Dodgers ace surrendered back-to-back homers for the first time in his career, with Mark Reynolds and Gerardo

Parra going deep in the sixth inning to help the Colorado Rockies beat Los Angeles 4-2 on Saturday night.

"That was cool for a little bit, I guess," Kershaw said of his streak. "You never expect to give up home runs. Kudos to them. Good job."

Reynolds lined a two-run homer off Kershaw (1-1) and Parra quickly followed with a solo shot. It was only the third time

Kershaw has allowed multi-homers in an inning over his career. Nolan Arenado also hit a homer off Kershaw in the first.

Kershaw sometimes goes an entire month without giving up three homers.

"He's one of the best for a reason," Reynolds said. "He left a couple of pitches up in the zone. Me and Parra put some good swings on them."

Kershaw lasted six innings and gave up four runs in his first loss to the Rockies since July 12, 2013. Manager Dave

Roberts had a simple explanation for Kershaw's struggles.

"He's human," Roberts said.

Behind the big hits by Reynolds and Parra, plus a lights-out bullpen, the Rockies improved to 5-1 for the third time in franchise history. Then again, they could sense this brewing. "We had a different feeling in spring training. We knew we had a good squad," Reynolds said.

Jon Gray turned in a strong outing during a no-decision, allowing one run over 5 1/3 innings. Mike Dunn (2-0) got two outs in the sixth to earn the win and Greg Holland pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

Andrew Toles added a solo homer in the fifth for the Dodgers to tie it. It was his first homer since a grand slam Aug. 31 at

Coors Field.

Parra also came up big with his glove, racing back and reaching up to take an extra-base hit away from Corey Seager in the third. An inning later, Parra saved at least a run with a diving catch on Yasiel Puig's sinking liner.

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"That's a great play," manager Bud Black said. To think, Parra was originally slated to play right with Carlos

Gonzalez getting a rest. The Rockies announced before the game that Parra would switch to left and Stephen

Cardullo would play right.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Roberts said lefty Alex Wood would get the starting nod Monday with lefty Rich Hill sidelined by a blister. ...

Right-hander Pedro Baez (strained right thumb) could be ready for the next series in Chicago.

Rockies: Righty Chad Qualls (forearm tightness) threw a simulated game Saturday. He will soon be ready to head for a rehab assignment. ... Lefty Chris Rusin (right oblique strain) went 2 2/3 innings and gave up no runs for Triple-A

Albuquerque on Thursday.

STORY UPDATE

Shortstop Trevor Story fell awkwardly when he was caught in a rundown during the fourth inning. He limped off, but returned when the Rockies took the field. "He's fine," Black said. "Trevor's great."

THIS & THAT

Colorado started 5-1 in 2013 and 1995. ... Reigning NL batting champ DJ LeMahieu remained in a hitting funk. He went 0 for 4 to drop his average to.087. ... Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez had an RBI single in the eighth. ... The last time Kershaw allowed two homers in an inning was April 26, 2009, against Colorado.

STRUGGLING FORSYTHE

A slumping Logan Forsythe wasn't in the starting lineup. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and struck out to drop his average to .158. He was acquired from Tampa Bay on Jan. 23 after a season in which he hit a career-best 20 homers.

"Obviously, he'd like to start off a little hotter but tomorrow he could have a couple of hits and we're talking about how he's off to a good start to the season," Roberts said.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.40 ERA) is 2-2 with a 1.90 ERA in four career starts against Colorado.

Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (1-0, 7.94 ERA) allowed five runs in his win at Milwaukee.

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