Dodgers 6, Rockies 5

James Loney was riding a stationary bike a few feet away when a small group of reporters made a half-circle around Ramon Troncoso’s locker, all of us keeping a respectful distance until he finished getting dressed.
“So what, you’re going to talk to him now that he pitched four shutout innings?” Loney said, and everyone had a good laugh.
But seriously, folks, the rest of the clubhouse couldn’t stop gushing over the way this guy saved the day for the Dodgers, who were desperate for someone to give them length on a night when their bullpen was shot. Troncoso not only gave them length, he gave them quality, preserving a one-run lead with four dazzling innings in which he allowed only one baserunner, that on a groundball that Rafael Furcal double-clutched, allowing Seth Smith to just beat it out for a single.
Troncoso barely made this club out of spring training, but he isn’t fighting for his major-league survival anymore.
“I told him after the game he never has to prove himself in that situation again,” Joe Torre said.
Troncoso not only nailed down his first career save, he also put the finishing touches on James McDonald’s first career win. McDonald gutted his way through five innings, and Torre said after the game that he’ll be back out there in five days, in the homestand opener against the Pods on Thursday night. But once again, McDonald cruised along thorugh two strong innings and completely lost his control in the third, a fact he himself later said was due to a tendency to lose focus in the middle innings.
Jeff Weaver made his first start for ABQ at New Orleans tonight, threw 60 pitches in 3 1/3 and allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits with four Ks and no walks. He probably needs one more start before he is ready to come up and take the fifth spot if that’s what Torre/Colletti decide to do, plus Torre really likes the idea of having McDonald in the bullpen. So McDonald might be pitching to stay in the rotation the next time out.
Big night for Russell Martin, who had been slumping but broke out in a big way, tying his career high with four RBI on a pair of two-run singles. It was his sixth career four-RBI game, first of the season.
Dodgers go to 13-5 and move 2 1/2 up on the Pods. Dodgers now share the best record in baseball with the Cardinals.
Clayton Kershaw against Jason Marquis tomorrow at 12:10 LaLa time. I believe I already mentioned that Furcal and Blake are sitting tomorrow. After the game, Joe told us that Manny will sit tomorrow, as well, the first time that will have happened all year. He went 0 for 5 with three Ks tonight and was uncharacteristically but clearly overswinging at times. Pierre will play LF, Castro SS and DeWitt 3B.