Rockies, Kershaw play to draw, could play again soon

DODGERS 5, ROCKIES 3

The Rockies will need to learn some things on the fly as they step into the postseason for the first time in eight years, a drought that lasted longer than most of their players’ careers. Take, for example, Charlie Blackmon’s curtain call.

Colorado’s all-star center fielder Friday blasted a second-deck home run to right field Friday night and the sellout crowd at Coors Field stood in applause to demand that he tip his cap.

“I’ve never done that before. I didn’t really know what to do,” Blackmon said. “Ian (Desmond) told me to go up there. I said, ‘Go where?’ And then I figured out what was going on.”

Saturday night, the Rockies continued to pester the pitcher who should not be pressured. In the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory, Colorado clipped ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw for three runs in the second inning in a statement of purpose. On their way to the National League’s wild-card game at Arizona on Wednesday night, the Rockies refuse to be intimidated.

Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo homer off Kershaw to lead off the second inning, then Jonathan Lucroy ripped a run-scoring double down the left-field line and Blackmon singled in another tally, his 104th RBI this season.

“I want to play playoff baseball. I really want that,” Blackmon said. “But I’m trying my best to treat every baseball game like a regular baseball game. That will give me the best chance to perform well.”

Well before another sellout crowd of 48,103 settled into the seats, the Rockies celebrated in skivvies after Milwaukee lost in St. Louis, eliminating their last remaining threat. A matchup against Kershaw became a secondary concern, at least long enough for the Rockies to jump on chairs and whoop through their clubhouse.

But the Rockies played their first string to a draw with the Dodgers. German Marquez, a 22-year-old rookie from Venezuela, pitched six efficient innings. He allowed only six hits and three runs, likely solidifying a spot in the Rockies’ postseason rotation if they can eliminate the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Wednesday. Marquez issued only one walk and threw just 73 pitches.

Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer to the bullpens in the fifth inning off Marquez to tie the score 3-3 and Chris Taylor’s groundout in the seventh scored Puig to give the Dodgers a one-run lead. Chase Utley doubled in the ninth off Colorado closer Greg Holland to score Puig for a fourth time.

By the fifth inning, Rockies manager Bud Black cycled in his bench players.

If the NL standings were settled, the Rockies’ attack on Kershaw was not. The three-time Cy Young Award winner gave up seven hits and three runs over four innings, his briefest outing since the Rockies tagged him for four runs in just 3M innings at Los Angeles on Sept. 7.

Saturday’s start was a tuneup for Kershaw before he starts Game 1 of a National League division series Friday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left Kershaw’s length up to him. He left after only 57 pitches.

In six starts against the Rockies this season, Kershaw has a 4.01 ERA in 33M innings — his highest ERA against a team he has faced more than once. But he will finish with the NL’S lowest ERA (2.31). He has lowered his career ERA every season for the past nine years, to 2.36.

The Rockies, meanwhile, have homered in six consecutive games. They have scored 37 runs through five games on this homestand. They have one game remaining to extend the third-best record in club history.

“If there’s a time to start doing it all,” Blackmon said, “now is a good time.”