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Dodgers-Rockies Preview

May 27, 2009 - 5:57 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (31-15) at Colorado (18-26), 3:10 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had little trouble scoring runs this year, especially against the Colorado Rockies.

The hot-hitting Dodgers look to complete their second series sweep of the Rockies this season in the finale of a three-game set at Coors Field on Wednesday.

One day after totaling a season high for runs in a 16-6 victory, Los Angeles (32-15) beat Colorado 7-1 for its seventh win in eight games against the Rockies in 2009.

The Dodgers, who own the majors' best record and have scored an NL-leading 268 runs, have outscored Colorado 66-37 this season. They're batting .330 in the last six games overall and have 31 hits in this series.

"Offensively, we're continuing to live up to our billing," Dodgers catcher Brad Ausmus said. "When we lost Manny (Ramirez to a 50-game drug suspension), a lot of the naysayers thought we would have trouble scoring runs but apparently, that isn't true."

Los Angeles swept a three-game set against Colorado from April 17-19, and now it will try to do the same at Coors Field for the first time since Sept. 26-28, 2006.

On Tuesday, Juan Pierre had three hits with two RBIs and Orlando Hudson extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games for the Dodgers, who have won six of their last seven road contests.

Pierre continues to play well in place of Ramirez. The veteran outfielder is batting .410 (32 for 78) with 15 RBIs and 18 runs in his last 18 games. He is 8 for 18 (.444) with five RBIs against Colorado this season.

"Right now, I think I'm taking advantage of opportunities to play every day," Pierre told the Dodgers' official Web site.

Hudson is batting .377 (26 for 69) with 13 RBIs during his hitting streak. He is 3 for 9 with two doubles against Colorado's Ubaldo Jimenez (3-5, 4.25 ERA), who starts Wednesday.

The Dodgers have had no trouble this year versus Jimenez, who has allowed 13 runs while walking eight in 8 1-3 innings in losing both of his starts against them in 2009. He had been 4-0 in six previous starts versus Los Angeles.

The right-hander, though, has pitched well since losing back-to-back outings against the Dodgers to close April. He has a 2.38 ERA this month but is coming off a loss, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out seven in seven innings of a 4-3 defeat at Detroit on Friday.

Colorado's Todd Helton started and singled Tuesday after leaving Monday's game with migraine symptoms. He's batting .335 overall but is 5 for 23 (.217) against the Dodgers this season.

Clint Barmes homered Tuesday for Colorado (18-27), which has tied a season high by losing four straight at home. Barmes is 3 for 5 with a homer versus Los Angeles' scheduled starter, Clayton Kershaw.

The 21-year-old Kershaw (2-3, 4.32) struggled in his last outing against the Rockies, giving up a season-high nine runs while walking four in 4 2-3 innings of a 10-4 loss at Colorado on April 26. He is 1-3 with an 8.20 ERA in four starts versus the Rockies.

After taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning to win at Florida on May 17, the left-hander allowed a run with four hits while walking four and throwing 97 pitches in five innings of a 3-1 loss to the Angels.

"It's going to be tough staying in a game past five innings with pitch counts like that," said Kershaw, who did not get a decision. "I've got to find ways to minimize my pitches."