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Contending Dodgers to take on also-ran Rockies

Aug 6, 2012 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - The addition of Hanley Ramirez could go a long way for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their quest for a postseason spot.

Ramirez has driven in 11 runs and owns a .347 on-base percentage in 11 games with the Dodgers since they acquired him from the Miami Marlins on July 26. He and the Dodgers hope to build off a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs when they play the Colorado Rockies tonight in the opener of a three-game series from Chavez Ravine.

The former All-Star infielder was the hero in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Cubs by driving in Matt Kemp with a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

"That's what I'm here for," Ramirez said. "I'm not trying to do too much. I'm here to help the team win."

Luis Cruz and Andre Ethier drove in two runs apiece and Kemp scored three times for the Dodgers, who have won six of their last nine games and remained a half-game behind San Francisco for the NL West lead. Kemp is riding an eight-game hitting streak.

Los Angeles is 3-3 on a nine-game homestand and posted its first home sweep since taking all three games versus St. Louis from May 18-20.

Joe Blanton made his L.A. debut on Sunday and fired six innings of two-run ball in the no-decision. Blanton was traded to the Dodgers from Philadelphia on Friday. Ramirez's hit in the bottom of the ninth made a winner out of Kenley Jansen (5-3).

Chris Capuano will try to get back on track when he takes the home Dodger Stadium mound this evening. Capuano has lost two straight starts and five of his past six decisions, including last Tuesday's 8-2 loss to Arizona in which he yielded five runs in six innings.

Capuano, a left-hander, is now 10-7 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 starts. He is 1-1 in two starts against Colorado this season and 5-6 with a 3.67 ERA in 13 career games (12 starts) versus the Rockies.

Colorado has dropped 16 of its last 20 games and went just 1-8 on a nine-game, 10-day homestand that ended with Sunday's 8-3 loss to San Francisco.

The Rockies were trying to salvage the finale of the set, but couldn't muster much offense against Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner held the Rockies to a run in six innings, while Colorado starter Tyler Chatwood was reached for three runs -- one earned -- in 3 1/3 innings for the loss.

"In the first innings I was just not in the zone at all," said Chatwood.

Carlos Gonzalez and Jordan Pacheco each had two hits and an RBI for the Rockies, who will also visit the Giants on their six-game trek and are last in the NL West standings at 30 games below .500. Gonzalez notched his 40th multi-hit game of the season in a losing cause.

Rockies third baseman Chris Nelson is expected to be activated off the disabled list before tonight's game. He had been sidelined since July 17 because of an irregular heartbeat. In 58 games this season, Nelson is batting .256 with five home runs and 23 RBI.

Meanwhile, Rockies left-hander Jonathan Sanchez was placed on the DL due to biceps tendinitis on Sunday.

"He has some soreness," Rockies manager Jim Tracy noted on the club's website. "He will not travel with us. They are going to treat him, and once he gets to the point where he's able to get back up and begin a throwing program after treatment, we'll get him ramped back up and get some bullpen sessions with him."

Tracy will send Drew Pomeranz to the mound Monday, and the rookie is just 1-6 with a 5.13 earned run average in 11 starts this season. Pomeranz is 0-3 in his past four outings and did not record a decision in last Wednesday's 9-6 Colorado loss to St. Louis. He gave up three runs in four innings in that one.

The left-handed Pomeranz faced the Dodgers for the first time in his career on May 2 at Coors Field and tossed 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in an 8-5 Rockies' win. He did not record a decision for his efforts.

Los Angeles is 5-4 against Colorado this season.