Dodgers end the situational comedy with 6-0 victory over Rockies

In the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ game against the Colorado Rockies, Matt Kemp — on his bobblehead night — came up with the bases loaded and two out Tuesday.

It was the perfect moment to break a scoreless tie. But Kemp flied out to end the inning, and it seemed the Dodgers’ recent inability to convert runners in scoring position would never end.

But it did just one inning later, when Scott Podsednik, James Loney and Casey Blake all had run-scoring hits, and that was all Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers’ bullpen needed to cruise past the Rockies, 6-0, at Dodger Stadium.

Kershaw (11-7), who entered the game not having allowed a run in his last 19 innings against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium, blanked them for seven more innings on five hits Tuesday, lowering his season earned-run average to 3.03.

And Jonathan Broxton, whose struggles have at least temporarily cost him his role as the Dodgers’ full-time closer, retired the side in the ninth inning.

But the Dodgers were unable to gain ground in the National League West or wild-card races, remaining 11 games behind division leader San Diego and seven back of wild-card leader Philadelphia.

Until their five-run fifth inning against Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin, the Dodgers had been 0 for their last 25 with men in scoring position, a key reason why they had a dreary 2-5 trip in Philadelphia and Atlanta before returning home to open a three-game series with Colorado.

The revival of the offense was welcomed by the team on a day when Manny Ramirez’s return to the Dodgers appeared closer but Rafael Furcal’s did not.

Ramirez, on the disabled list because of a calf strain in his right leg, took batting practice Tuesday and was scheduled to start a rehab assignment Wednesday night in San Bernardino with Class-A Inland Empire.

But the return of Furcal, on the DL because of a low back strain, remained uncertain after the All-Star shortstop reported continued soreness Tuesday.

Kershaw and Chacin were locked in a pitchers’ duel until the fifth, when Jamey Carroll led off with a walk, A.J. Ellis singled him to third and Kershaw sacrificed Ellis to second.

Podsednik doubled over the head of Rockies left fielder Ryan Spilborghs to score Carroll and Ellis. After Ryan Theriot flied out and Andre Ethier walked, Podsednik and Ethier scored on Loney’s double, and Loney scored on Blake’s single.

Podsednik said his two-run double “jump-started us a little bit and gave the offense a little bit of energy. We’ve just been scattering hits around as of late, we haven’t been coming up with big hits with guys on.”

Noting the big hits that followed his double, Podsednik added, “Hitting’s contagious, and a lack of hitting is contagious.”

Manager Joe Torre appreciated the sudden run production — “Hopefully we can do a little bit more,” he said — and also his 22-year-old starting pitcher’s strong effort. “Kershaw has shown you more and more why he’s going to be somebody special,” Torre said.

“It was a good win for us,” Kershaw said. “I really had to bear down and make some good pitches.”

The Dodgers added a run in the eighth inning when, with the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Ronnie Belliard hit a comebacker and Colorado reliever Randy Flores threw wild to first base, allowing Blake to score.

james.peltz@latimes.com

Buy Dodgers tickets here

---

Clicking on Green Links will take you to a third-party e-commerce site. These sites are not operated by the Los Angeles Times. The Times Editorial staff is not involved in any way with Green Links or with these third-party sites.

---