DENVER -- Kenta Maeda took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and got another win while A.J. Ellis slugged a two-run homer as the Dodgers beat the Rockies Saturday night, 4-1.
Maeda (4-0), lowered his league-leading ERA to 0.36. After a spectacular tumbling catch by left fielder Enrique Hernandez to end the fifth inning preserved the no-hitter, Maeda's flirtation with history was dashed on a line single to center by D.J. LeMahieu with one out in the sixth inning. In 6 ⅓ innings, Maeda struck out eight with a walk. Maeda became the first pitcher in Major League history to allow one run or less in his first four starts -- with a minimum of 20 innings.
Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth inning for his eighth save and 20th consecutive successful conversion dating back to last year. It was his 150th career save, 11 shy of Eric Gagne's franchise record of 161.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Maeda pitch: The biggest out Maeda got came with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth, when he popped up Nolan Arenado to second base. Gerardo Parra tapped back to the pitcher, who flipped home for the third out.
Where ain't they?: For five futile frames the Rockies tried to employ the old axiom to "hit it where they ain't," but the Dodgers were everywhere. Carlos Gonzalez poked a ball that should have gone through a hole to right, but Dodgers third baseman Howie Kendrick was positioned deep on the infield grass to the left of first base and snared it on the fly. Hernandez reeled in a Tony Wolters drive in the fifth inning -- with the Rockies still hitless -- running full speed toward the warning track, reaching high over his head, making a "snow cone" catch, and hanging onto it as he somersaulted on the grass and sprung to his feet.
Ken Gurnick has covered the Dodgers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2001.
Owen Perkins is a contributor for MLB.com based in Denver.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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