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Big sixth inning lifts Dodgers past Rockies

Sep 27, 2014 - 6:01 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Turner and Juan Uribe each delivered two-run singles during a huge sixth inning that vaulted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers struck six times in the sixth to overcome a 3-1 deficit, though the result turned out inconsequential after Washington clinched home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs with a win earlier Friday.

Dee Gordon finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the NL West champions, with Carl Crawford contributing a pair of hits and scoring once.

Justin Morneau stroked a two-run homer among his two hits for Colorado, raising his NL-best average to .319. Ben Paulsen added a solo shot in defeat.

Jordan Lyles (7-4) was charged with five runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings to receive the loss.

"Jordan threw the ball better than whatever his line is," Rockies manager Walt Weiss remarked. "It starts with getting strike one. That's the next step for Jordan, getting good counts to make it easier on him."

Lyles had held the Dodgers scoreless for four straight innings after being touched for a run in the first, but fell apart in the sixth as Los Angeles surged ahead for good.

Darwin Barney began the Dodgers' rally with a pinch-hit leadoff single and Gordon followed with a bunt hit to put the tying run aboard. After Scott Van Slyke's single plated Barney and Charlie Blackmon's errant throw home moved both runners up a base, Turner chased Lyles with a ground-ball hit that knocked in each and gave Los Angeles a 4-3 edge.

Crawford then greeted reliever Franklin Morales with a single and Andre Ethier drew a walk to load the bases for Uribe, who ripped a ground ball up the middle to bring home two more runs. Barney later delivered a sacrifice fly to cap the six-run outburst and push the margin to 7-3.

"Everybody wants to have good at-bats," said Crawford. "We just don't want to lose. That's what our big inning came from."

Scott Elbert (1-0) picked up his first win since 2012 after recording the final out in the top of the sixth taking over for Roberto Hernandez, tagged for three runs while walking four over 5 2/3 innings.

"That's the best Roberto has been in a little while," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "It was good that he kept the ball down."

The Rockies had a chance to close the gap in the seventh, but Crawford threw out Rafael Ynoa attempting to score on Michael Cuddyer's single to left.

Paulsen closed the gap a bit with a pinch-hit homer off J.P. Howell with two down in the ninth. Brian Wilson needed just one pitch to retire Kyle Parker, however, and end the game.

Gordon doubled and raced home on a Yasiel Puig single in the opening inning to give Los Angeles the early upper hand, but the Rockies struck three times off Hernandez in the third to move in front.

Lyles helped his cause with a leadoff double and later crossed the plate when Ynoa reached on a Gordon error that preceded Morneau's shot over the wall in left center.

Game Notes

Morneau stands a point ahead of Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison in the NL batting race entering the season's final two games ... Colorado second baseman DJ LeMahieu left the game after six innings with a knee injury ... The Rockies have now dropped nine of 10 on the road and are 6-37 away from Coors Field since June 16 ... Elbert, who missed the entire 2013 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, last won in the majors on July 3, 2012 against Cincinnati.