Joc Jams: Rookie aims to stay hot at Coors Field

(SportsNetwork.com) - Los Angeles' Joc Pederson attempts to become the first Dodgers rookie to homer in five straight games on Wednesday when they close out a four-game series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

Pederson, whose 16 home runs lead all rookies and are tied for third overall, homered in both ends of the Dodgers' doubleheader split on Tuesday. However, it was another rookie, Alex Guerrero, who carried the Dodgers to a win in game two, as his ninth inning grand slam propelled them to a 9-8 win.

Guerrero's blast just cleared the glove of a leaping Charlie Blackmon in center to put the Dodgers in front.

"I thought he had it," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "I was just numb at that point."

Rockies manager Walt Weiss echoed Mattingly's statement.

"From the dugout, looked like he caught the ball," he said.

Colorado had won the first game, 9-3.

Pederson, though, homered in that one for the Dodgers, who have homered nine times already this series and lead the majors with 73 blasts. Baltimore's Caleb Joseph was the last rookie to homer in five straight from Aug. 2-9.

"We knew the talent was there, the swing was there," manager Don Mattingly said of Pederson. "The best is yet to come."

Hoping to keep him in the yard on Wednesday will be righty Chad Bettis, who is coming off one of the best starts of his career. Bettis scattered two hits over eight scoreless innings to beat Philadelphia on Friday to run his record to 2-0, while lowering his ERA to 2.96.

Bettis has pitched to a 5.93 ERA in five games (2 starts) versus the Dodgers.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with righty Mike Bolsinger, who is 3-1 with a 1.15 ERA. Bolsinger endured his first loss on Friday in St. Louis, as he gave up two runs and seven hits with three walks in seven innings.

He had allowed just one hit over eight scoreless innings his previous time out.

Bolsinger beat the Rockies three starts ago and is 1-0 in two starts against them with a 3.27 ERA.

The Dodgers have won nine of 11 with the Rockies this season.