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Pinch-hit home run propels Dodgers to 9-5 win over Rockies

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner connects for a two-run home run while pinch-hitting against the Rockies in the eighth inning Sunday at Coors Field.

Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner connects for a two-run home run while pinch-hitting against the Rockies in the eighth inning Sunday at Coors Field.

(Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
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KEY MOMENT: In a tie game in the eighth inning, Justin Turner smashed a pinch-hit, two-run home run to score the decisive runs. With the Dodgers, Turner is 14 for 39 as a pinch-hitter with two homers and 15 RBIs. The Dodgers scored two more runs in the inning to take a 9-5 lead. “I don’t know what to say,” Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said of Turner, “other than he’s been really good.”

AT THE PLATE: Often, the Dodgers’ best at-bats weren’t at-bats at all. They walked 10 times, tied for their highest total all season. For one stretch, six of seven batters walked, a streak interrupted only by Clayton Kershaw’s at-bat. Three of those runners scored. “The way we’re going about it has been an unselfish attack where each guy is not always having to be the guy,” Mattingly said. “He’s willing to walk and let the next guy do it.” In the fourth inning, Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa, who had six walks in four innings, walked two batters to load the bases, and then walked A.J. Ellis to score a run. Earlier, in the second inning, Enrique Hernandez picked up an RBI on a fielder’s-choice groundout. Adrian Gonzalez, who was two for four with four RBIs, knocked in three runs with a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning and had a sacrifice fly to score a run in the eighth inning. Howie Kendrick, who was also two for four, picked up an RBI in the eighth inning.

ON THE MOUND: In the sixth inning, Kershaw exited with the bases loaded and two outs. It was up to right-hander Pedro Baez to retire the Rockies’ best hitter, Troy Tulowitzki, to keep the score even. He struck out Tulowitzki on four pitches. Baez pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief and earned the win. Adam Liberatore also pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Liberatore has allowed one baserunner in nine innings this season. Yimi Garcia pitched the final two-thirds of an inning and struck out both batters. The Dodgers have the second-best bullpen earned-run average in the National League.

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SNOW DAY: Four inches of snow fell on Coors Field overnight and into the morning, but the grounds crew was able to clear the field before the first pitch.

EXTRA BASES: Kenley Jansen threw 13 pitches in two-thirds of an inning in his fifth rehab appearance for single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday. On Saturday, he threw a 1-2-3 inning. Jansen has been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season following foot surgery. Mattingly said Jansen probably isn’t ready to return yet. “I’m not sure that he’s finished with what we want him to do yet,” Mattingly said. “But we’ll see.”… Injured outfielder Yasiel Puig will undergo an MRI exam on Monday. Mattingly originally said the examination would be done Sunday, but he said he misspoke. ... The Dodgers and Rockies will make up Saturday’s rainout with a split doubleheader on June 2 at 12 p.m. PDT and 5:30 p.m. PDT.

UP NEXT: Right-hander Zack Greinke (5-0, 1.56 ERA) will take on the Miami Marlins and Tom Koehler (2-3, 5.18) on Monday at 7 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.

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