Rockies swept by Dodgers, strike out 49 times, walk twice in 4 games

The Rockies’ 10-game road odyssey began with promise in St. Louis. It ended with a strikeout-filled reality check at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles beat the Rockies 7-3 Sunday afternoon to complete a four-game sweep in which Colorado hitters struck out 49 times and walked only twice.

That’s right, twice.

The Dodgers extended their season-best winning streak to eight games. Colorado fell to 1-8 vs. L.A. this season.

When the Rockies traded veterans Mike Moustakas, C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk for pitching prospects, it ensured that their young players were going to get plenty of at-bats. It also ensured that there were going to be Jolly Green Giant-sized growing pains for young players, such as rookie Nolan Jones, who went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts Sunday.

The Rockies opened the trip by taking two of three games at St. Louis but ended up going 3-7 and riding a five-game losing streak as they limped back home.

Dodgers lefty Julio Urias dominated the Rockies for seven innings Sunday, striking out a career-high-tying 12. In innings five through seven, he struck out eight of nine batters, including seven in a row.

The bright spot of the game for Colorado was Alan Trejo’s two-run homer off Urias in the fourth to tie the game, 3-3.

The tie didn’t last long. Miguel Rojas blasted a two-out solo homer off Kyle Freeland in the bottom of the frame to give the Dodgers a 4-3 edge.

Los Angeles put the game away with a three-run sixth against right-hander Tyler Kinley, who gave up three hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Kike Hernandez led off with a solid single, Kinley walked Max Muncy and Chris Taylor loaded the bases with a cheap infield single. Miguel Rojas drove in Hernandez with a sacrifice fly before Mookie Betts pounded a two-run double.