Dodgers slug way past Rockies, 11-5

It all started with several Dodgers moms, including Matt Kemp’s and Andre Ethier’s, throwing ceremonial first pitches on Mother’s Day.

But soon a frustrated Kemp was throwing his glove in the Dodgers’ dugout after irritating his sore left hamstring against the Colorado Rockies.

Then Ethier and Manager Don Mattingly were thrown out for arguing Ethier’s called third strike in the sixth inning.

But Bobby Abreu hit a three-run double and A.J. Ellis hit a three-run home run in a six-run fifth inning that put the Dodgers ahead to stay in an 11-5 victory.

And that enabled left-hander Ted Lilly to earn his fifth victory without a loss this season despite a wobbly first inning.

Throw it all together and the Dodgers swept the three-game series and improved their big league-best record to 23-11.

The Dodgers’ big concern is Kemp’s sore hamstring, which the center fielder injured a week earlier. He left Sunday’s game in the third inning after grounding out, and will have an MRI exam Monday.

But the other Dodgers handily picked up the offensive slack against starter Alex White and the Rockies’ bullpen.

And Tony Gwynn Jr., who started the game in left field and moved to center field after Kemp left, made a diving catch that robbed Carlos Gonzalez of an extra-base hit.

After the Rockies scored three runs in the first inning, Lilly settled down and the Dodgers took the lead with the big fifth inning.

In the inning, Abreu, who who replaced Kemp, hit an opposite-field double to the left-center field gap that cleared the bases.

White was replaced by Matt Reynolds, who struck out Ethier with a called third strike. Ethier argued with plate umpire Mark Carlson, who ejected Ethier and then Mattingly.

“I just thought it was a close call,” Ethier said, adding that “it’s probably not the best situation to get thrown out right there, especially with Matt just coming out of the game.”

After James Loney walked, Ellis hit a three-run home run that gave the Dodgers an 8-4 lead.

Ellis also had a run-scoring single in the second inning for a career-high four runs batted in. The catcher reached base for the 23rd consecutive game.

“He’s been tremendous,” Mattingly said, “and his confidence is growing.”

For Lilly, it’s the first time he has started 5-0 in his 14-year career. He has won his last eight decisions dating to last season.

The Dodgers scored one run in the seventh inning when rookie Scott Van Slyke scored on Adam Kennedy’s squeeze bunt, and Van Slyke’s double drove in two runs in the eighth inning, his first big league extra-base hit.

james.peltz@latimes.com