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Slumping Dodgers, Rockies complete three-game series

Jun 4, 2008 - 11:48 AM Colorado (21-38) at LA Dodgers (28-30) 3:10 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- When two teams are struggling to the degree the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers are, emotions are bound to be raised. On Tuesday, it spilled out onto the field.

The Rockies and Dodgers attempt to put a bench-clearing brawl and their respective struggles behind them on Wednesday when they complete a three-game set.

After Matt Kemp swung and missed at a curveball in the dirt from reliever Taylor Buchholz for a third strike in the eighth inning Tuesday, the ball rolled into the baseline as Kemp attempted to run toward first.

Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba bumped into Kemp in his pursuit of the loose ball, leading to a shoving match before the two players wrestled each other to the ground, prompting both teams to charge the field in defense of their player. Both Kemp and Torrealba were ejected.

Colorado, which snapped an eight-game skid with Tuesday's 3-0 win, will send Aaron Cook (7-3, 3.36 ERA) to the mound.

Los Angeles - which has dropped nine of its last 12 and scored two runs or less in eight of those defeats - will turn to rookie Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 5.59), who will be making his third major league start.

The lefthander followed a solid debut with a lackluster effort in Friday's 9-5 victory over the New York Mets. He did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs and five hits with four walks over just 3 2/3 innings.