Dodgers get Cooked

Aaron Cook came into Wednesday night's ballgame with a 5.84 ERA and never pitching into the seventh inning.

He left with a 5.05 ERA and seven innings pitched.

Not even a ballooned ERA could wake up the Dodgers' lifeless bats, as the Rockies got the win, 3-1. Despite Hiroki Kuroda only giving up a run, he still got the loss. With a 6-13 record, I may as well have cut and pasted that last sentence from numerous other starts this year.

Both teams put up blanks through four innings. There were some chances on each side, but nothing came of it. In the first, Rafael Furcal and Matt Kemp each singled, but Aaron Miles grounded out to end the inning. The Rockies had two runners in scoring position in the second and could do nothing with it. The Dodgers again put two on in the fourth until Jamey Carroll grounded out with two down.

It took until the fifth for the game's first run, and the Rockies were the ones that came through. It all started with two outs. Eric Young singled after striking out his first two at-bats. Dexter Fowler also singled. Troy Tulowitzki then bounced one back up the middle that just got through to score a run and make it 1-0. Seth Smith was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Kuroda got Ty Wiggington swinging for the last out.

The Rockies added another run in the seventh. Blake Hawksworth come on to relieve Kuroda, and he got the first two outs with ease. But like the fifth inning, the Rockies rallied. Tulo doubled and Smith was again put on to set up a forceout. It didn't happen, as Wiggington doubled into left to grab a 2-0 lead.

With the Dodgers dead at the plate, the Rockies scored again in the ninth. Fowler singled and stole second with an out. Tulo singled just past Raffy at short, and Fowler scored to make it 3-0.

Huston Street came on for the save, and Rod Barajas finally got the Dodgers on the board with his ninth solo homer. Nothing else happened, as Juan Rivera popped up behind the plate to end the game. It was the 27th save for Street.

If Kuroda truly is moved before the trade deadline on Sunday, then he can't possibly get any worse run support than he's received in LA. In this one he went six innings for six hits, one runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. Not one of his best starts with all the baserunners, but the bottom line was one run in six innings... and another loss.

It's almost comical when looking at the major league stats. Kuroda leads the National League in losses with 13, yet is 11th in ERA. How is that possible? Oh that's right, his team scores maybe one run a game for him. That's how. Imagine if he goes to the Yankees. He'll get more runs in three innings than he would in three starts with the Dodgers.

Cook has had a solid career with the Rockies, but he's been awful with them this year. You wouldn't know that after watching this one, as the Dodgers could only put together six singles off of him. Raffy and Kemp each had two hits. Ethier took an 0-fer. Ditto for Gwynn leading off. It just wasn't happening.

I will give the Dodgers credit in that they did take two of three from the Rocks, and have won eight of their last 10 at home. They next welcome the Diamondbacks for three starting Friday. The DBacks are right in the thick of the division battle, as they're only three games in back of the Giants. Like I said recently, all the Dodgers can do now is play spoiler. Winning this series would be fulfilling that role.

The miserable Ted Lilly, just as big if not a bigger free agent disappointment that Juan Uribe, will get the start. Can he improve on his 5.08 ERA? We shall see.