Maeda solid as Dodgers beat Rockies 4-2 to avoid s

DENVER (AP) Kenta Maeda has heard plenty about Coors Field: How the balls keep flying and pitchers don't last too long.

He just doesn't let it bother him.

Maeda allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings, rookie Corey Seager tied a Dodgers record for shortstops with his 19th home run and Los Angeles beat the Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

Maeda (10-7) gave up four hits and struck out five for the Dodgers, who lead the NL wild-card race. Maeda, who walked none and hit two batters, has allowed three runs in 18 2/3 innings against the Rockies, with 22 strikeouts and two walks.

In Colorado, he's allowed two runs in 12 innings with 13 Ks.

''I'm aware of the reputation that the balls fly further,'' Maeda said through a translator. ''But I'm not thinking too much about that.''

Pedro Baez and Joe Blanton combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Kenley Jansen threw a hitless ninth for his 32nd save.

Colorado scored 19 runs and had 28 hits in the first two games of the series. The Rockies lost for just the second time in nine games.

''We knew what to expect (with Maeda),'' Weiss said. ''He's been tough on us. ... He pitches backwards and you never know what you are going to get.''

Tyler Chatwood (10-7) allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings for Colorado, which trails by three games for the NL's second wild card.

David Dahl hit a two-run homer in the fourth and has hit safely in his first 10 games in the majors.

''I just want to get a great at-bat,'' Dahl said of his role on the surging Rockies. ''I want to contribute.''

With the Dodgers trailing 2-1, Seager hit a solo homer in the fifth that tied the Dodgers shortstop mark set by Hanley Ramirez in 2013. Yasmani Grandal had a two-run triple later in the inning.

Howie Kendrick singled in a run in the fourth.

''For us to salvage the series was huge,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ''This is a tough place to win.''

HOME FIELDING

In the second inning, Joc Pederson's sharp groundball down the right-field line had a chance to score Grandal from first in the second inning, but a fan leaned over the wall and scooped up the ball. Pederson was given a double, and Maeda hit an inning-ending flyout. The fan was removed from the game.

ICHIRO 3,000 WATCH

Miami's Ichiro Suzuki comes to Coors Field two hits from becoming the 30th player to reach 3,000 in the major leagues. He is 0 for 10 since his last hit, on July 28. With left-hander Jorge De La Rosa starting for the Rockies, it is not clear whether Suzuki will start.

DAYTON ADDED TO BULLPEN

The Dodgers recalled LHP Grant Dayton from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned RHP Brock Stewart to Triple-A. Stewart allowed nine runs in four-plus innings in a 12-2 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (blister on hand) played catch Thursday and hopes to start for the Dodgers on Sunday against Boston. ''We haven't locked it in,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, ''but I think our goal is for Rich to make the start on Sunday.''

Rockies: OF Daniel Descalso made a diving, head-first catch into the left field wall off the bat of Seager in the third. He left the game after the inning with a bruised left shoulder. ... OF Carlos Gonzalez was out of the lineup after spraining his left ankle in the seventh inning Wednesday. . SS Trevor Story (thumb) underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament. ''Everything went well,'' manager Walt Weiss said. ''No surprises.''

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (9-4, 4.41 ERA) is to start Friday against Boston and knuckleballer Steven Wright. Kazmir allowed four runs in 6 2/3 innings against Arizona on Saturday, his first loss in nearly three months.

Rockies: De La Rosa (7-7) has thrown a quality start in seven of his last eight outings.