Hot Rockies beat slumping Dodgers

DENVER (AP)

After a slow start, the Colorado Rockies are hitting their stride.

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Wilin Rosario hit a two-run homer and Colorado took advantage of four Dodgers errors to romp past Los Angeles 13-3 Friday night for its season-high fifth straight win.

''We're just putting it together as a group, as a team,'' said Carlos Gonzalez, who singled twice and drove in a run to extend a hitting spree in which he's batted .625 with six homers and 11 RBIs over the last six games.

''We have so many good hitters here who can do a lot of damage. From the top of the lineup to the bottom, we've been doing a really good job of creating a lot of runs for our team. We've got to continue to win, but it's a good sign,'' he said.

Pinch hitter Chris Nelson and Michael Cuddyer added back-to-back solo homers off reliever Josh Lindblom in the eighth inning. Colorado scored four unearned runs and sent the Dodgers to their season-worst fifth loss in a row.

''We gave them too many outs, too many extra bases,'' Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. ''You can't do that here in this park, you're going to get burned. It was the sloppiest game that we've had, it just didn't look right. Too many mistakes.''

Dexter Fowler also had three hits and two RBIs for the Rockies, who are averaging 10.6 runs during their winning streak despite missing star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who went on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because of a groin strain.

''Coming out of spring training, we felt this was what our lineup could do,'' Cuddyer said. ''It's a very deep lineup, one through eight, that can go out there and produce. We're gaining confidence now, and be where we're supposed to be.''

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Josh Outman, going from the bullpen to the rotation spot left vacant when Jamie Moyer was cut by Colorado earlier this week, allowed two hits in 3 1-3 scoreless innings as part of a pitching-by-committee approach.

Outman made his first start since last September while with Oakland. Adam Ottovino (1-0), the third of five Rockies pitchers, earned his first major league victory with 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief.

Chris Capuano (7-2) went 5 1-3 innings and gave up seven hits and a season-high seven runs, though three of them were unearned.

''I wasn't real happy the way I handled it mentally out there today,'' Capuano said. ''I was getting real frustrated with myself. My command was just off today. That's frustrating to me, that I couldn't grind it out and get through that sixth inning and keep us in the game.''

Colorado took a 2-0 lead in the second without the benefit of a hit. Cuddyer reached when third baseman Ivan De Jesus' throw to first base pulled Scott Van Slyke off the bag. Cuddyer advanced to third on a pair of fly outs and Rosario drew a walk.

Cuddyer had a long lead off third and Rosario was in the process of stealing second when catcher Matt Treanor threw wide of De Jesus at third, allowing both Cuddyer and Rosario to score as Tony Gwynn Jr. chased the errant toss down in left field.

The Rockies moved in front 3-0 in the fourth with the help of another error. After Cuddyer drew a leadoff walk, Todd Helton grounded sharply in the hole between first and second. Van Slyke made a dive for the ball and missed before Jerry Hairston, ranging over from second, snagged it with his glove as he fell to the ground. But the throw from his backside was wide of Capuano, covering first, and Cuddyer advanced to third before coming home on Jordan Pacheco's double-play grounder.

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The Dodgers got on the board in the fourth when Alex Castellanos, recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque earlier this week after Matt Kemp reaggravated a hamstring injury and returned to the disabled list, had an RBI triple for his first major league hit. He also had a sacrifice fly in the sixth, pulling the Dodgers to within 4-2.

But the Rockies broke the game open with four runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.

NOTES: Dodgers RHP Aaron Harang (3-3) is set to make his third start of the season against the Rockies on Saturday, when he'll face Juan Nicasio (2-2). ... The seven runs allowed by Capuano were one shy of his career high. ... A squirrel ran onto the field during the sixth inning, causing a very brief delay before disappearing beneath the stands near the Dodgers dugout. ... Nelson's eight-inning shot was the sixth pinch-hit homer for the Rockies this season.