Los Angeles @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2010 ) LA Dodgers 3, Colorado 5
If the Los Angeles Dodgers fail to make the playoffs, it won't be because of Ted Lilly.
Lilly looks to remain unbeaten with his new team as the Dodgers visit the Colorado Rockies today in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Acquired from the Chicago Cubs on July 31, Lilly has been everything Los Angeles could have asked for and more. The left-hander is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts with the Dodgers after going 3-8 with a 3.69 ERA in 18 outings with the Cubs.
Lilly has allowed one run or less in three of his five starts with Los Angeles and five of his last seven overall. \He has yielded fewer than four runs in each of his last eight outings.
On Tuesday, Lilly led the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory over Milwaukee, giving up three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The 34-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.90 ERA in six career starts against the Rockies. He came up with his best performance on Aug. 19, when he tossed a two-hitter while striking out a season-high 11 in a 2-0 triumph. It was both Lilly's first complete game and shutout since 2004 while with Toronto.
Miguel Olivo has thrived against Lilly, going 5-for-14 (.357) with three home runs and seven RBIs.
The Dodgers had their four-game winning streak snapped Saturday as they dropped a 5-3 decision. Rod Barajas went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer while Manny Ramirez made his first appearance for Los Angeles since Wednesday, striking out as a pinch-hitter.
It also may have been Ramirez's last appearance with the Dodgers, who have until Tuesday afternoon to work out a trade for the slugger with the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox made a waiver claim on Ramirez on Friday.
Carlos Gonzalez tripled, homered, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs for the Rockies, who have won five of their last six games. Jhoulys Chacin followed up 7 2/3 scoreless innings against Arizona by allowing just one run in seven frames en route to his third win in four starts.
Jason Hammel tries for his second win in nine starts when he takes the mound today. He is 1-4 with a 4.82 ERA in his last eight outings.
On Monday, Hammel settled for a no-decision in a 5-4 victory over Atlanta after surrendering three runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The 27-year-old is 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA in six career games against Los Angeles, including three relief appearances. He allowed two runs and four hits over six innings of a 3-2 triumph over the Dodgers on Aug. 18 but did not figure in the decision.
In 12 starts at home this year, Hammel is 6-1 with a 3.43 ERA.
The Rockies, who have won five of six at home, are 4 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia in the National League wild card standings, while the Dodgers trail the Phillies by 5 1/2 games.