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Kemp, Dodgers take another shot at Rockies

Jun 11, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - Matt Kemp has been putting up MVP-type numbers and his pinch-hit homer almost ignited the Los Angeles Dodgers to a come-from-behind win over the Colorado Rockies last night in the second portion of a four-game series at Coors Field.

The two NL West inhabitants will resume their series tonight.

Kemp was a late scratch with tightness in his left hamstring, but slugged his 19th home run of the season with one out in the ninth inning to start a five- run rally. Tony Gwynn Jr., Aaron Miles and pinch-hitter Rod Barajas all followed with RBI hits, but it wasn't enough in the 6-5 decision.

Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley was dealt the loss for giving up six runs and 13 hits over 4 2/3 innings.

"I left a couple pitches over the middle of the plate and you can't do that here," Billingsley said.

Los Angeles has dropped three in a row and six of its last nine games, and fell to 3-5 on a 10-game, three-city road trip. Meanwhile, Kemp fell a single short of the cycle in Thursday's loss and has now played 269 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. Kemp could be back in the lineup tonight and is hitting .455 with six homers and 14 runs batted in nine games (8 starts) this month. His 19 homers lead the National League.

Kemp has homered nine times at Coors Field already, the most at a visiting park in his young career. He has gone deep eight times in Cincinnati.

"I didn't see Matt Kemp playing like that all the time last year," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said on the club's site. "But I can sure tell you this: He's one very dangerous Major League player right now."

Ted Lilly draws the start for Los Angeles this evening and he has alternated wins and losses over his previous six decisions dating back to a win over San Diego on April 29. Lilly fell to 1-2 in his past five starts and lost at Philadelphia the previous time out in a 3-1 setback on Monday, when he permitted two runs and five hits in six innings.

Lilly fell to 4-5 in 13 starts to go along with a 4.13 ERA this season. He is just 1-2 in seven road starts and defeated Colorado on May 31 in an 8-2 triumph. The veteran lefty limited the Rockies to a pair of runs over seven innings with eight strikeouts. He is 6-2 in nine career starts against the Rockies.

Colorado has won three in a row and six of nine games, and improved to 2-0 on a 10-game homestand versus the Dodgers, Padres and Tigers.

Troy Tulowitzki homered, Carlos Gonzalez finished with four hits and a run scored and Todd Helton collected two hits, two RBI and a run scored for the Rockies, who got a pair of RBI from Seth Smith and three hits out of Chris Nelson. Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin struck out nine over eight scoreless innings for the win and Huston Street posted his 19th save by getting the final out of the game.

"Great command. Really mixed it up, really pitched tonight," Colorado catcher Chris Iannetta said about Chacin.

Colorado has taken five of the seven games against Los Angeles this season and has won the last four matchups at Coors Field. It will also host San Diego and Detroit on the residency and sits 4 1/2 games off the lead in the NL West.

Rockies starter Jason Hammel gets the nod tonight and is hoping to crack the win column for the fourth time this season. He is 0-4 with a 4.66 earned run average in his last six starts -- all Colorado losses. The Rockies have dropped Hammel's last seven starts, including Sunday's 2-1 loss at San Francisco.

Hammel did not record a decision in that one and held the defending World Series champion Giants to a run in seven innings. The right-hander, who is 3-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 12 starts, owns a 2-4 mark in six trips to the Coors Field mound in 2011.

He lost at Los Angeles on May 30, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of a 7-1 setback, and is 2-2 with a 4.80 ERA in 10 career games (7 starts) against the Dodgers.