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Dodgers use HRs from Gonzalez, Kemp to beat Rockies

Apr 27, 2014 - 7:06 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp both homered to back a solid seven-inning start from Paul Maholm, as the Los Angeles Dodgers downed the Colorado Rockies, 6-3, on Saturday in the second installment of a three-game set.

Yasiel Puig added a pair of RBI and a run scored while Hanley Ramirez also knocked in a run before aggravating a right thumb injury, which forced the LA shortstop to leave the contest prior to the start of the fourth inning.

Maholm (1-2) limited the Rockies to just two runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts over seven innings to pick up the win. Chris Withrow walked the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, but struck out Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki in succession to escape the frame unscathed.

"Paul was really good again," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Maholm. "He kept us in the game. He got us into the seventh. He did his job."

Brian Wilson walked the first two hitters in the ninth before giving way to Kenley Jansen, who allowed a run to score before stranding runners on second and third to secure his ninth save of the season.

Brandon Barnes and Justin Morneau registered an RBI apiece for Colorado, which had won three of its last four games coming into the contest.

Rockies starter Juan Nicasio (2-1) surrendered five runs on eight hits and two walks in just 4 1/3 frames to absorb the loss.

"I didn't have good command of my fastball," Nicasio admitted. "I got behind hitters. I have to have better command of my fastball. Then I can throw strikes."

Barnes' two-out base hit scored D.J. LeMahieu in the third to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, but the Dodgers countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take control.

Dee Gordon stroked a leadoff triple and Puig was hit by a pitch before Ramirez's grounder to shortstop scored Gordon. Adrian Gonzalez then plated Puig with a sacrifice fly to center before Kemp cleared the wall in right- center field with his fourth home run of the season to make it 3-1 LA.

The Dodgers added a run in the fourth when Puig punched a two-out base hit to left to score Drew Butera, who walked to start the frame and moved to second on Maholm's sacrifice bunt before scoring on Puig's single.

Wilin Rosario opened the fifth with a double and scored when Morneau followed with a single to right, but Adrian Gonzalez led off the home half of the frame with a drive over the wall in left field to give the Dodgers a 5-2 lead.

After Withrow wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth, Puig laced an RBI ground-rule double to center for a 6-2 lead in the home half.

In the ninth, Wilson walked pinch-hitter Charlie Blackmon and Morneau before Jansen entered and fanned Drew Stubbs. Pinch-hitter Corey Dickerson then singled to left to load the bases for Charlie Culberson, who plated a run with a fielder's choice grounder.

Jansen struck out Barnes to close out the victory.

Game Notes

Juan Uribe replaced Ramirez in the field in the top of the fourth inning ... Maholm had lost seven straight decisions against the Rockies and improved to 2-8 in 11 career starts against Colorado ... The win was the Dodgers' 9,999th victory in franchise history ... Colorado went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base ... Adrian Gonzalez recorded his 1,500th career hit in the victory.