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Penny, Dodgers shut down Rockies

Apr 12, 2007 - 6:12 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Once Brad Penny survived an early jam, the Colorado Rockies never had a chance.

Penny and two relievers combined on a two-hitter to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 victory over the Rockies in the rubber game of their three-game set.

Following an impressive performance in his season debut, Penny allowed just two hits in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 2-0.

"I felt like I got into a good groove after the third and got control of my pitches," Penny said. "It was good to get some runs on the board and work with a little cushion."

A 16-game winner and All-Star game starter last year, Penny walked the bases loaded in the first inning but escaped unscathed by getting Brad Hawpe to ground into a fielder's choice.

"It seemed like no matter what I threw it was not a strike early in the game," Penny said.

Penny walked four and struck out three in raising his record against the Rockies to 11-2 in 17 lifetime starts. After that, Colorado managed just a pair of singles in dropping below .500 (4-5) for the season.

Relievers Jonathan Broxton and Takashi Saito finished up, with Saito logging the ninth to earn his fifth save in as many chances.

The Dodgers managed to capitalize on their best scoring threat against Rockies starter Jason Hirsh in the third inning. All the damage came with two out.

"I felt like I pitched a good game," Hirsh said. "I just ran into some trouble in the third inning after getting the first two guys out in the inning. I left the ball up in the zone the rest of the inning and they hit me pretty hard."

Juan Pierre and Russell Martin each singled and then pulled off a double steal. Nomar Garciaparra followed with a two-run single, giving Penny all the runs he needed.

"The key to that inning was the double steal by Pierre and Martin that set the table up for us," Garciaparra said. "I went after the first pitch and got a pitch to drive and just hit it hard."

Garciaparra took second base on a balk by Hirsh and scored on Jeff Kent's single to left field.