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Jimenez dominates as Rockies rout Dodgers

Jul 23, 2008 - 4:54 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Colorado Rockies always believed that righthander Ubaldo Jimenez had the stuff to be a force on the mound. Now, everyone else is finding out why.

Jimenez allowed four hits in his first career complete game, Ian Stewart drove in four runs and Jeff Baker collected four hits as the Colorado Rockies routed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-1, on Tuesday night.

Jimenez (6-9) struck out four and induced 13 groundball outs while allowing four hits for the Rockies, who rebounded from Monday night's drubbing at the hands of their National League West Division rival to even the three-game series at Coors Field.

"He's growing up right before your eyes," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's focused, he's preparing well, his command continues to improve. He's making positive strides each and every time out."

Jimenez started the season 1-7 but is 5-2 in his last seven starts since June 16. His ERA is 2.47 during that stretch, with 13 runs allowed over the past 47 1/3 innings.

"It's a dream come true. Since I got to the big leagues last year, I always dreamed about (a complete game)," said Jimenez, who retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced. "The main thing was being aggressive, going after hitters. I made them swing the bat."

Jimenez pitched well prior to his current hot streak but didn't get much run support as the Rockies posted just 12 runs in Jimenez's first seven losses. But Colorado provided more than enough offense Tuesday night.

"(Jimenez) went out there and pitched a heck of a game. As a hitter, it feels like you're up there every two minutes - it's three up, three down and he's throwing strikes," Stewart said.

Brad Hawpe, who finished with three hits and two RBI, hit a solo home run in the second inning to put the Rockies on the scoreboard. It was Hawpe's fourth homer in the past eight games at home.

Colorado piled on in the third, loading the bases with one out before Chris Iannetta plated Baker and Matt Holliday to extend the lead. With the bases loaded again, Stewart raked a two-run single to right field to put the Rockies ahead, 5-0.

"This is the most comfortable and the best I've felt after coming up from the minors. I'm glad it's starting to show a little bit," Stewart said.

Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw (0-3) loaded the bases yet again in the fourth, this time with no outs, but reliever Jason Johnson needed just three pitches to retire the side - a 5-2 fielder's choice followed by a double play.

But Los Angeles (49-51) could not hit Jimenez, and Stewart's solo homer in the fifth only put the game further out of reach. The Rockies battered reliever Ramon Troncoso for four more runs in the eighth.

Matt Kemp hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth to avoid the shutout. Russell Martin and Andy LaRoche connected for singles, and Nomar Garciaparra doubled for the Dodgers.

"(Jimenez) throws the ball, and it sinks a little bit and, if you can get a ball to sink in this ballpark, you're going to keep it out of the air, and that's probably the most important thing," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "When you've had success and your numbers are good in a particular place, it's like a hitter hitting in a certain ballpark."