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Dodgers see another starter leave early, hang on to down Rockies

Jul 27, 2007 - 5:47 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Even with a victory on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers still not could feel completely good about themselves.

Brad Penny tossed six strong innings and Rafael Furcal homered for the Dodgers in a potentially costly 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Having sent nine pitchers to the disabled list already this season and witnessing Derek Lowe injure himself running to first base the previous day in Houston, the Dodgers watched Penny (13-1) wince in pain after beating out an infield hit.

The two-time All-Star was removed shortly after being visited by manager Grady Little and the team's training staff. The injury was later diagnosed as an abdominal cramp.

"I just had a little cramp," Penny said. "I could (have) stayed in there but they wanted to pull me. I've never really had a cramp in a game. It might've just been the altitude."

However, Los Angeles provided enough offense - including two singles from Penny before his departure - to help its ace join Chicago Cubs righthander Carlos Zambrano as the only other National League pitcher with 13 wins. He extended his unbeaten streak to 12 games and has not lost a start since May 18 - a stretch that has seen him go 8-0 with a 2.50 ERA.

Penny ran his record against NL opponents to 12-0 in 18 starts this season.

"He did a great job of pitching," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He locates his pitches very well. That is the key to his success. He gave us a scare with the cramp but we expect him to make his next start."

Penny allowed three sixth-inning runs and five hits with three walks and three strikeouts to post his 12th career win against the Rockies, which is tied for the most he has against any team in his career.

Furcal provided the Dodgers some insurance runs in the fifth after Los Angeles jumped out to a 3-0 advantage just an inning before. The 29-year-old switch hitter, who has hit all four of his homers against righthanders this season, launched a two-run shot to right off Rockies starter Rodrigo Lopez (5-4), putting the Dodgers ahead 5-0.

"I was just trying not to hit into a double play and I was able to drive the ball pretty good," Furcal said. "This was a good win for us."

Trailing by five runs, Colorado answered with a three-run sixth. Todd Helton pushed across Willy Taveras for the Rockies' first run and Brad Hawpe followed two batters later with a two-run double to narrow the deficit to 5-3.

Hawpe plated the fourth and final run off reliever Jonathan Broxton in the eighth.

"We threw some hits together in the inning where we scored three," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "From that inning on, we had people out there on base. We kept clawing back, we just didn't get enough to get on top."

In a bit of irony, Lopez left the contest with tightness in his right forearm just before he was to face Penny, who was injured two pitches after Lopez exited. The 31-year-old Mexican righthander surrendered five runs - three earned - and five hits with five strikeouts.

"My forearm muscles got pretty stiff," Lopez said. "They were stiff through the game. At the end, I didn't have any more strength, so I wasn't able to make some good pitches. I think it's just soreness right now; we will see tomorrow."

Joe Beimel and Broxton bridged the two-inning gap to closer Takashi Saito, who made his return after a seven-game absence due to a minor shoulder blade injury. The righthander worked around a walk in the ninth to notch his 26th save in 29 chances.

"I just went out there and pitched," Saito said. "The thing I was worried about was just being out there and facing hitters again. Right now, I have no problems with my shoulder but we will see if I feel anything tomorrow."