‘Pen finally has signature night for Dodgers

Frankie Avalon threw out the first pitch Friday at Dodger Stadium, it being ‘60s Night and all. He had quite a few hits in his day -- “Just Ask Your Heart” and “I’ll Wait for You,” among others.

Ditto the Dodgers, who had plenty of hits Friday. The problem for the home team was, so did the Colorado Rockies in this season’s first upped-ante matchup between the Dodgers and the team they held off for the National League West title last season.

And just like in 2009, they held off Colorado again, with their often-erratic bullpen getting the job done on this night, giving up no runs and two hits in the final 3 2/3 innings as the Dodgers hung on for a 6-5 victory.

At the end of a back-and-forth contest, Jonathan Broxton, who the night before gave up two runs in the ninth inning only to be bailed out by Andre Ethier’s walk-off grand slam, got his second save this season, following two shutout innings by Ramon Troncoso with a solid ninth in which he struck out the final two batters.

“This was sort of like one of those games you play in Colorado,” Manager Joe Torre said. “Back and forth, a run here, a run there, two runs here. But as happened in Colorado last year, Troncoso kind of came in and quieted everything down.”

Getting to Troncoso was a chore in a game with 20 hits. Hiroki Kuroda, making his sixth start, was considered the Dodgers’ only steady starter. But Friday night, he wasn’t.

He carried a 5-3 lead into the sixth inning, courtesy of three Dodgers runs scored on four hits in the fifth, but was pulled after a throwing error allowed runners to advance to second and third.

“The only thing I regret is that I didn’t finish the sixth inning,” Kuroda said through an interpreter, adding that he rushed his throw to first on the error. He threw 5 1/3 innings, gave up nine hits and five runs (four earned), and had a career-high five walks.

George Sherrill replaced him and threw three pitches, one of which was a sacrifice fly that tied the score.

Jeff Weaver, who was activated earlier Friday after missing 15 games because of a lower back strain, followed and made six pitches, getting one out, allowing one walk . . . and picking up the win, as it turned out. “It’s nice to get back in your first game and get in there,” Weaver said.

Matt Kemp tripled in the sixth to score Jamey Carroll, his first run batted in in 15 games, to give the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.

Troncoso took the mound, and indeed quieted things down before Broxton got the ball -- only his second appearance since April 30, and second save opportunity since April 24. “And Broxton was Broxton,” Torre said.

Carlos Gonzalez led off with a single but was thrown out at second by catcher Russell Martin on an attempted steal. Then Broxton struck out Ian Stewart and Jason Giambi to end it.

“You’ll have your bad days,” Broxton said, “but you have to have a clear mind and come back the next day ready to go.”

Etc.

A night after giving the Dodgers their best performance by a pitcher in a starting role this season, John Ely received a ticket back to triple-A Albuquerque on Friday to make room for Weaver, who was activated from the disabled list and picked up his first win of the season and 100th of his career. Ely threw a strong 62/3 innings in his second career start, retiring 16 straight batters at one point. “Based on how he pitched thus far, it was a difficult decision,” Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti said. “It was based on our need in the bullpen and Jeff being ready to be activated.” Said Ely: “I gave myself a good chance for a future call-up.” . . . Outfielder Xavier Paul was optioned to the minors after the game to make room for Manny Ramirez, who Torre said will play Saturday.

baxter.holmes@latimes.com

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