Dodgers start strong, then hang on for 10-8 win over Rockies

There now, feel all better? Not even a little?

All those things that had gone wrong for the Dodgers the past three games made a quick, dramatic and fairly stunning U-turn Wednesday. And then they hung on.

The Dodgers collected 11 hits -- including the first career grand slam from A.J. Ellis -- got a few breaks and a good starting pitching performance from Joe Blanton, to down the Rockies 10-8 at Coors Field.

Even the injury news on Matt Kemp – battered and bruised but not seriously hurt – after his confrontation with the center-field wall Tuesday, was encouraging.

OK, there was the Rockies scoring seven times in an almost disastrous eighth to turn a 10-1 laugher into something closer to more familiar recent agony, but an ugly three-game losing streak was over.

The Dodgers did a little of everything to score six times in the third inning. They got leadoff singles from Juan Rivera and Ellis, and then a successful sacrifice bunt from Blanton. They scored their first run on an error by first baseman Jordan Pacheco and a second on a single by Shane Victorino.

The Rockies continued to help the L.A. cause when left-hander Drew Pomeranz unleashed a wild pitch to advance the runners. Adrian Gonzalez then hit a soft grounder that managed to find a hole to score two.

Hanley Ramirez completed the inning’s scoring with a two-run homer to dead center. It was his 22nd home run of the season.

With Blanton shutting the Rockies out through six innings, it appeared the Dodgers had a comfortable Coors Field lead. Key word there, appeared.

Colorado scored its first run off Blanton (9-12) in the seventh on an RBI single by Tyler Colvin, but then came the unexpected power shot by Ellis.

A pair of walks and an Andre Ethier single loaded the bases before Ellis hit his grand slam. It was his 11th home run of the season. Ellis, 31, had never hit more than eight home runs at any level. And they were four runs that would come in handy.

Blanton was charged with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth after he left the game following one-out singles to Pacheco and catcher Ramon Hernandez. The Dodgers went to Shawn Tolleson, just called back up prior to the game, who did not record an out. He walked one and gave up three line-drive singles.

In his 7 1/3 innings, Blanton was charged with three runs, 10 hits and a walk. He struck out five.

The Dodgers ended up using four pitchers before finally quelling the Rockies’ comeback bid in the eighth. For reasons unknown, closer Kenley Jansen did not pitch the ninth. Ronald Belisario got the final five outs to earn his first save of the year.

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