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Dodgers try to avoid getting swept in Colorado

Aug 29, 2012 - 1:07 PM (Sports Network) - The good feelings from Saturday's blockbuster trade have just about disappeared from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Things have gone from bad to worse during this three-game series with the Rockies and the Dodgers will try to avoid getting swept in Colorado for the first time since 2005 this afternoon. They'll have to do so without star outfielder Matt Kemp as well.

Los Angeles has lost three straight games since picking up a victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday, the same day it sent a package of players to the Boston Red Sox for first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, starting pitcher Josh Beckett, infielder Nick Punto and injured outfielder Carl Crawford.

Gonzalez is 3-for-15 with a homer and four RBI since the trade, Punto has gone 1-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and Beckett was handed a loss in Monday's opener after allowing three runs over 5 2/3 frames.

Crawford isn't expected to play until next season because of Tommy John surgery.

Despite those additions, the Dodgers have fallen 3 1/2 games behind the first- place San Francisco Giants in the NL West thanks to losses in six of eight and also trail the second wild card spot in the league by 2 1/2 games.

The addition of Gonzalez to a lineup that already features Kemp, fellow outfielder Andre Ethier and infielder Hanley Ramirez was expected to give Los Angeles a feared offense, but the club has been outscored 24-6 over its three- game slide and likely won't have Kemp today after he suffered a host of injuries in Tuesday's 8-4 loss.

Kemp crashed into the padded wall in center field in the first inning at full speed, remaining on the warning track for some time while getting checked on by the training staff. He stayed in the game following the collision, but eventually took himself out because of a knee issue.

"I think it's frightening," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Kemp's injury. "Contusion on the knee they're saying, but they're still going to get an MRI on it. He had to get stitches on his chin. No concussion symptoms ... also going to get a cat scan on his jaw."

Kemp missed a total of 51 games earlier this season due to a nagging hamstring issue.

Ramirez hit a solo homer and starter Chris Capuano was tagged for six runs over six innings for the Dodgers, who haven't been swept in three games at Colorado since Sept. 2-4, 2005.

Wilin Rosario hit a solo homer and drove in three runs for the Rockies, who have won eight of their last 10 overall and six of eight at home this season versus the Dodgers.

Tyler Chatwood allowed just two runs on five hits and three walks over five frames to earn the victory.

"Another really good game," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "A good game because once again we pitched very effectively and I thought our offensive approach was terrific."

The Dodgers turn to another midseason acquisition today in Joe Blanton, who is still seeking his first win since coming over in a trade from the Philadelphia Phillies.

The right-hander is 0-3 with a 7.71 earned run average in four starts with the Dodgers. After allowing three homers in a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 16, Blanton yielded four runs on 10 hits and two walks over 5 2/3 frames of last Tuesday's setback to the San Francisco Giants.

Blanton is 8-12 with a 5.02 ERA in 25 total games this season and faced the Rockies on June 20 while with the Phillies. The 31-year-old did not get a decision as he allowed five runs and three homers over seven innings, leaving him 1-0 with a 5.71 ERA in three lifetime encounters.

Colorado's Drew Pomeranz hopes to close out this series with a victory, having gone 0-4 in eight starts since his last win on July 6.

The 23-year-old southpaw pitched well enough to win on Friday versus the Chicago Cubs, giving up two runs on a pair of solo homers over five frames before not factoring into a 5-3 loss.

Pomeranz is just 1-7 with a 4.78 ERA in 15 starts this season. He has faced the Dodgers twice in his young career, allowing a run and striking out 12 over 10 2/3 innings without a decision.