Dodgers Rout Rockies

Now that the Dodgers have a major league offense, they said there was no need for them to panic after one poor performance.

The Dodger batting order recovered Wednesday night in a 9-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

After being handcuffed by Colorado starter Joe Kennedy in the series opener, the Dodgers rebounded against Scott Elarton.

The Dodgers broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning to chase Elarton (0-3) and take a 9-2 lead.

They also fared well against the Colorado bullpen, sending 10 batters to the plate and collecting six hits in the inning as part of a 13-hit attack.

Hideo Nomo (3-1) won his third in a row, pitching six innings on a cold night (37 degrees at game time). The crowd was announced as 21,685, but most of those stayed home.

“The way we have gone about our business the following day after getting beat, it’s something we’ve talked a lot about,” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose team improved to 6-2 on the nine-game trip that ends today.

“It’s a combination of [a better lineup], and also the personality and the makeup in the clubhouse. It’s the makeup to understand what we’ve been talking about as a group.... You can look at contributions from any guy in that clubhouse.”

Leadoff batter Dave Roberts reached base safely in all five plate appearances with two singles, a double and two walks. He scored three runs and had three stolen bases to remain perfect in 12 attempts.

“We’re better offensively, obviously, that’s a no-brainer,” Roberts said. “But mentally, we also have a lot of confidence this year as an offensive unit.

“It doesn’t matter who’s out there on the mound. We have confidence that we can score runs, and it’s not up to just our pitching staff to hold them to a couple of runs to win a baseball game.”

Paul Lo Duca heated up at the plate again with three hits and three runs batted in a night after his hitting streak ended at 11 games.

And then there’s Adrian Beltre.

Already off to the best start of his career, Beltre hit his team-leading sixth home run and had two RBIs to retain a share of the team lead with Milton Bradley, who gave the Dodgers a scare in the ninth.

The center fielder stirred concern by injuring his left shin and ankle while sliding to stop a ball in the right-center field gap on Rene Reyes’ leadoff double.

Bradley rolled on the grass and grimaced in pain while being examined by assistant trainer Matt Wilson. Bradley, who had two hits and two RBIs, finished the game, and lead trainer Stan Johnston believes Bradley will be fine.

“We don’t know if he really hit it or just stretched a muscle in there a little bit,” Johnston said. “It doesn’t look like anything serious.”

In addition to being pleased about the turnaround on offense, the Dodgers also expressed encouragement about Nomo.

The right-hander gave up nine hits and four earned runs but did enough to win again.

“He’s going to win games as long as he throws the ball in the right spots, regardless of what his velocity is,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “He has shown that, and especially if you give him the lead, look out.”

The Dodgers have scored 23 runs in Nomo’s last three outings, and he appreciates the support.

“It helped that we got those runs early in the game,” Nomo said through an interpreter. “I didn’t feel that much pressure throwing because we had a big lead in the game.

“There have been games when I’ve given up runs, but my team has come back and gotten more runs. It just helps me a lot.”