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Kershaw tries to keep Dodgers scorching

Sep 13, 2008 - 10:12 AM LA Dodgers (76-71) at Colorado (67-81), 8:05pm EDT

DENVER (Ticker) -- A year ago, the month of September belonged to the Colorado Rockies. This season, it has belonged to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and all the Rockies can do is try to cool their divisional rivals off.

The teams will face off on Saturday.

The Dodgers have won three in a row and 11 of 12 to vault to the top of the National League West as they try to match the formula that converted last year's Rockies from also-rans to National League champions. In Friday's series opener, they kept things going as budding ace Chad Billingsley won for the sixth time in seven decisions to lead the Dodgers to a 7-2 win.

With 15 games remaining on its schedule, Los Angeles holds a 3 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks (72-74) in the National League West.

On Saturday, the Dodgers will have to rely on a rookie to keep things going. Highly touted lefthander Clayton Kershaw (3-5, 4.60 ERA) has dropped two decisions to the Rockies already this year, including a forgettable July 22 showing in which he gave up five runs and 10 hits in three innings.

He only lasted four innings in his last start, giving up three runs to the Diamondbacks on September 7 - though he escaped with a no-decision as the Dodgers came back to win.

One thing Kershaw has going for him is the benefit of two of the hottest hitters in baseball - Andre Ethier and Manny Ramirez. Since August 1, the outfield duo has combined to hit .383 (105-for-274) with 23 homers, 66 RBI, 21 doubles and 61 runs scored. They each had a pair of hits in Friday's victory.

Taking the hill for the Rockies will be Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.30), who is 0-2 with a hefty 8.44 ERA in six career appearances against the Dodgers.