Dodgers Get a LOB Pass

The Dodgers exited Coors Field on Wednesday without the usual gaudy offensive statistics associated with the hitters’ haven.

The only significant number in double digits was the 11 runners they left on base in the final game of their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

But the Dodgers managed to overcome what has become an early shortcoming and defeated the Rockies, 6-3, before 32,878.

Chad Kreuter had a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and pinch-hitter Dave Hansen followed with a two-run double in a three-run seventh inning that helped the Dodgers take two out of three from the Rockies and finish their nine-game trip 5-4.

“It turns out to be a good series, a good road trip,” said Dodger Manager Jim Tracy, whose team improved to 8-7. “We know it could have been better.”

Wednesday’s victory marked the first time during the trip that the Dodgers scored more than five runs. And for the first time in three games here against the Rockies, they scored in more than one inning.

“That was something new for us,” said second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, who doubled and scored on Shawn Green’s single in the first inning. “We got out there early and were able to put some things together after we missed so many opportunities.”

Rookie left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii wasn’t nearly as sharp as he was in his first two outings, but he overcame early wildness and improved to 3-0 with some outstanding help from relievers Jesse Orosco, Giovanni Carrara and closer Eric Gagne, who earned his fifth save.

Ishii faced the Rockies in his major league debut April 6 and shook off spring-training jitters to record 10 strikeouts in 52/3 shutout innings at Dodger Stadium. He followed that performance with six shutout innings against the San Diego Padres in a 3-0 victory at San Diego.

But Wednesday, Ishii pitched from behind in the count through the first 31/3 innings. He gave up four consecutive singles to start the game as the Rockies scored twice in the first inning on an RBI single by Benny Agbayani and a groundout by Greg Norton that drove in Todd Helton from third. Colorado added another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Terry Shumpert.

Ishii walked Mark Little to start the fourth inning, then retired nine consecutive batters before he was removed after throwing 92 pitches in six innings.

“The feeling was different,” Ishii said through interpreter Scott Akasaki. “The angle of the curveball was different. But it was a good learning experience for me today, so when I come to Coors Field next time I can make adjustments accordingly.”

The Dodgers had at least one runner in scoring position in each of the first five innings against left-hander Mike Hampton, but the score was tied, 3-3, heading into the seventh.

Center fielder Marquis Grissom, celebrating his 35th birthday, led off the seventh with a double to right field against reliever Rick White (0-1) and Eric Karros reached on an error. White walked Adrian Beltre to load the bases and was replaced by Todd Jones, who gave up a fly ball to right to Kreuter.

Little’s throw appeared to beat Grissom to the plate, but he slid beneath the tag to put the Dodgers ahead, 4-3. Hansen then pinch-hit for Ishii and flared a double down the left-field line, scoring Karros and Beltre.

“That gives me a lot of confidence,” said Hansen, who is two for nine this season. “We had some chances and weren’t able to take advantage of them, so to go up there and deliver was great.”

The Dodgers scored one run in the first on Green’s RBI single but stranded two runners. They scored again in the second inning when Hampton walked Grudzielanek with the bases loaded with one out. But Hampton struck out Green and got Brian Jordan to ground out.

Jordan’s double in the fourth gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, but Green was thrown out at the plate on the play.

“When you play 162 games, you’re going to play some you’re not particularly proud of,” Tracy said. “But we won a ballgame.”