Apr 9, 2007 7:41 pm US/Pacific
Dodgers Drop Home Opener To Rockies
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
The Colorado Rockies spoiled the Los Angeles
Dodgers' home opener, and a couple of injuries made the day that
much worse.
Jeff Francis allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings, Garrett Atkins
homered and drove in his first three runs of the season, and the
Rockies beat Los Angeles 6-3 Monday to snap the Dodgers' four-game
winning streak.
Jason Schmidt (1-1), making his second start for the Dodgers
after signing a three-year, $47 million contract in December, left
in the fifth with tightness in his right hamstring. A team
spokesman said he is day to day.
Right fielder Matt Kemp came out in the fourth with a sore right
shoulder after banging into the auxiliary scoreboard trying to
catch Jeff Baker's RBI triple. There was no immediate word on the
severity of his injury.
Francis (1-0) allowed five hits, struck out six and walked
three. Ramon Ramirez relieved after Juan Pierre's two-out double in
the seventh, and struck out Russell Martin to end the inning.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with none out in the ninth against
Brian Fuentes, who got pinch-hitter Mike Lieberthal to pop out
before allowing a sacrifice fly to Pierre. Martin then flew out to
center for the final out.
Kaz Matsui opened the fifth by hitting a grounder to first
baseman Nomar Garciaparra, who juggled the ball and threw late to
Schmidt covering first. Schmidt grabbed at his hamstring after
taking the throw.
Schmidt, who earlier hit his seventh career homer, walked off
the field after a brief delay and was relieved by Mark Hendrickson.
Schmidt allowed four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits with no
walks and six strikeouts.
Atkins, who hit 29 homers and drove in 120 runs last season, hit
a 1-0 pitch into the left field bullpen with two outs in the first
to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers tied it in the third
when Schmidt homered -- the first for a Los Angeles pitcher since
Kaz Ishii hit one on July 31, 2004.
The Rockies scored two runs in the fourth on Baker's triple and
a run-scoring infield hit by Troy Tulowitzki. Kemp had the ball in
his glove, but it was jarred loose when he hit the scoreboard.
Ramon Martinez hit a two-out RBI double off left fielder Matt
Holliday's glove in the bottom half to cut it to 3-2.
After reaching base on Garciaparra's error in the fifth, Matsui
stole second, took third on catcher Martin's throwing error and
scored on Atkins' sacrifice fly.
The Rockies made it 5-2 in the eighth when Chris Iannetta hit a
sacrifice fly off Rudy Seanez, and Atkins hit another sacrifice fly
in the ninth off Joe Beimel.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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