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Kent's three-hit day helps Hendrickson, Dodgers win

Apr 20, 2007 - 3:45 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- After winning just one start last season for the Los Angeles Dodgers, all Mark Hendrickson wanted to do was get this season moving in the right direction.

Jeff Kent had three hits and two RBI and Hendrickson was solid in his first start of the season as the Dodgers notched an 8-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Kent singled and scored as part of a two-run second, walked and scored in a three-run third to put the Dodgers ahead, 5-0, and roped a two-run double to right-center in the ninth to give Los Angeles an 8-1 advantage.

"We were able to rebound (from the series-opening loss) and come back and play a good solid game," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "There weren't many balls leaving the park this series. (We just kept) putting together good quality at-bats and not throwing away too many plate appearances. That's the big key, taking a walk when you get it, putting the ball in play and making them make a play."

The two-bagger moved Kent past Babe Ruth into 38th place on the all-time doubles list.

Hendrickson (1-0), taking the place of the injured Jason Schmidt in the rotation, allowed one run and five hits with a walk and two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Schmidt is on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder injury.

"This is the best I've seen him pitch," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He had command of both sides of the plate, all three pitches he had great command. His changeup was very effective today."

Los Angeles, which has won seven of its last nine contests, has outscored the Rockies, 13-2, in their three wins over Colorado this season.

Aaron Cook (0-1), who has only pitched against the National League West in his four starts, surrendered five runs - three earned - and six hits with four walks and four strikeouts over six innings. He fell to 3-5 in 15 career appearances to the Dodgers.

"He (Cook) is our No. 1," Hurdle said. "It was an opportunity for him to pitch like a No. 1. He got caught in some sequences in the second and third inning where he wasn't able to do that. That's going to be a test for him. That's one of the next steps he has to take to raise his game a little bit."

Garrett Atkins hit a run-scoring single in the sixth for the Rockies, who had their two-game winning streak end. Atkins has reached base via hit or walk in all but one game this season.