Randy Wolf, Andre Ethier Power Dodgers to 6-1 Victory Over Rockies

Andre Ethier provided the power and Randy Wolf added the finesse on Wednesday night for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they bounced back from a tough loss last night to defeat the Colorado Rockies, 6-1.

Coming off a devastating 5-4 loss in 10 innings, Los Angeles used the home run ball to regain a three-game lead over the Rockies in the NL West.

Ethier blasted two home runs, one in the first inning and one in the fourth, to spring the Dodgers (75-51) out in front of the surging second-place Rockies (72-54).  

The left-handed slugger has 27 homers this season, and continues to be on fire in the month of August, with 21 RBI in the month. He now has six multi-home run games this season and notched three hits for the second consecutive night.

Wolf toed the rubber and contributed seven-and-one-third innings of outstanding baseball, allowing one run on five hits. The lone run came on a third inning, line drive home run by Ryan Spilboroughs.

He threw 109 pitches on the night and came out with one out in the eighth after giving up a single to Eric Young Jr.

This is his fifth consecutive start of seven innings or more, a span in which Wolf has shown excellent command of the strike zone and has been pleasantly dominant.

In his past four starts (including tonight), Wolf is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30IP).

Wolf worked backwards and used his slow curveball to setup his fastball, keeping the Rockies guessing all night. The only downside of the game: Wolf snapped his career high four-game hitting streak.

James Loney added the big blow to Rockies starter Josh Fogg when he wrapped a high fly ball just inside the right field foul pole for a homer. The three-run shot, Loney’s eighth homer of the season, extended the Dodgers’ lead to 6-1.

The home run also broke Loney out of a large slump. He was batting just .152 (5-for-33) in his past 10 games, and had only one extra-base hit in his past 17 contests until the fourth inning blast landed above the out-of-town scoreboard in right.

Jonathan Broxton worked a scoreless ninth inning, not earning a save, but displaying a fastball of 100 m.p.h. while giving the Rockies hitters little chance to mount a late rally.

The Dodges are now 10-3 against the Rockies this season, and the two teams lockup for the rubber match tomorrow afternoon.

Vicente Padilla will make his first start as a Dodger against Jorge De La Rosa (12-8, 4.76).

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LAD	2	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	6	8	0
COL	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0

WP: Wolf (9-6)

LP: Fogg (0-2)

Notes from Wednesday night

Sherrill Undergoes MRI

Dodgers’ reliever George Sherrill underwent an MRI on his oblique today. Sherrill says the muscle felt fine on Sunday, and is unsure how he injured it. He was unavailable for last night’s loss because of the injury but is good to go tonight.

Road Warrior

James Loney hit his eighth homer of the season tonight—all eight of which have come on the road. 

PJ Ross is a Featured Columnist for the Los Angeles Dodgers