Rockies finally win a close one

DENVER -- Close games have been the norm lately for the Colorado Rockies, bringing them plenty of disappointment and heartbreak. They appeared headed in that bitter direction once again Saturday but came back twice and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in 10 innings on a single by Dexter Fowler.

The Rockies had lost three straight games and six of their previous seven, a stretch that included three extra-inning defeats as well as two one-run losses and two by two runs.

"What you want to do is survive the bad times so you can thrive in the good times," said Michael Cuddyer, who tied the game at 6 with a two-run homer in the seventh off Ronald Belisario. "Obviously the last week was not a good time. Hopefully, with today's win, it allowed us to survive it and now we can jump-start into tomorrow."

With two out in the 10th, Yorvit Torrealba grounded a single into left field against Matt Guerrier. Pinch hitter Wilin Rosario hit a slow roller that shortstop Nick Punto charged, but Rosario beat his throw.

Rosario runs well for a catcher, but as manager Walt Weiss said, referring to Rosario by his nickname, "You don't see 'Bull' getting a lot of infield hits, but ... he got out of the box well and that's a huge play."

Rosario, who had four hits in his past 25 at-bats and 12 in his past 50, immediately began running hard upon contact.

"That's the thing in the game I'm never going to understand," Rosario said. "The last couple weeks I've been hitting the ball pretty hard, and everybody catches it. But today I hit a soft ground ball, and I get on first. That's something beautiful."

Looking for a pitch that was up, Fowler pulled Guerrier's first-pitch curveball inside first base to give the Rockies their fourth walk-off win this season and first since May 21.

Gonzalez hit a two-run homer that capped a three-run fifth and put the Rockies ahead 4-3. He also threw out Mark Ellis, who was trying to score from second on a single in the third, and ran into left-center and lay out to make a catch on a drive hit by Punto to lead off the fourth.

The Dodgers pushed across a two-out run in the seventh against Edgmer Escalona. He gave up a double to Jerry Hairston and Skip Schumaker, who has hit in nine consecutive games, singled Hairston home.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was ejected by first base umpire Brian Knight in the sixth. With Nolan Arenado on first base, pitcher Zack Greinke reached to the mound for Torrealba's liner and threw to first base, thinking he had doubled up Arenado. Knight ruled Greinke had not caught the ball, and the umpires conferred briefly and upheld that call, prompting Mattingly to argue heatedly with Knight and get ejected for the first time this season.

"Zack told me when I went out there he caught it," Mattingly said, "and when he came back in he wasn't sure. It didn't affect anything; we got out of that inning. It's a dead issue. "

Greinke then walked pinch hitter Jordan Pacheco and was lifted after 5 1/3 innings, matching the longest of his four starts since returning from the fractured left clavicle he suffered in a fight with San Diego's Carlos Quentin on April 11.

"I've got to get comfortable out there," Greinke said. "I knew I'd make some mistakes, but I was expecting to do better in these first couple of outings. I've got to make adjustments and pitch better."

Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin gave up five runs in six innings. Tim Federowicz hit his first career homer in the third and doubled home two runs in the sixth to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead.

Federowicz's homer was the first off Chacin since April 1 at Milwaukee when Norichika Aoki took him deep on Opening Day. Greinke, who is 6-for-13 this season, followed with a single and Carl Crawford grounded a double inside third base. Chacin hit Mark Ellis with an 0-2 pitch to load the bases, and Adrian Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly.

After second baseman DJ LeManhieu booted Andre Ethier's potential double-play grounder, Hairston singled to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. But Gonzalez saved a run when he threw out Ellis at the plate.

"Whenever you get a win like this, it keeps you excited, keeps you motivated," Gonzalez said. "We're not that far from first place."

NOTES: Rockies RHP Rafael Betancourt (right groin strain) will be placed on the 15-day disabled list. RHP Manuel Corpas is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday. ... Dodgers LF Carl Crawford left the game in the third with a left hamstring cramp. He was limping as walked off the field after hitting his second double in as many at-bats. ... Dodgers LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu is scheduled to start Sunday but said he doesn't know if he will because of lingering pain in his left foot. He was hit with a Mark Trumbo comebacker Tuesday while throwing a two-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Angels. Ryu tested the foot with half-speed throws off a mound. ... Dodgers C A.J. Ellis took 15 swings off a tee and said his strained left oblique felt better. He's in his third day of treatment. Mattingly said he doesn't think Ellis will need 15 days to recover. The Dodgers will continue to monitor Ellis' situation before deciding whether to put him on the DL. ... Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez (left hamstring strain) made his first rehab start Friday night for High Class A Rancho Cucamonga and played six innings. Mattingly said he ran and moved well.