Colorado Rockies 7, Los Angeles Dodgers 0: Stephen Cardullo hits first career home run in shutout win

DENVER — Stephen Cardullo hit his first career home run and Tyler Anderson pitched 6 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings as the Colorado Rockies shut out the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-0.

Cardullo pinch hit for Rockies reliever Chris Rusin in the bottom of the seventh and drove Casey Fien’s 2-2 pitch into the first row of the stands in center field. Not only was it his first career home run, it also came on his 29th birthday.

“What a special feeling,” Cardullo said. “Probably my first home run on my birthday and for it to be my first major league home run, definitely a special feeling.”

Cardullo’s home run made it 4-0 in the seventh thanks in large part to the work of starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, who pitched 6 ¹⁄₃ shutout innings, allowing six hits and a pair of walks while striking out five, dropping his ERA to 3.43 on the season in 89 ¹⁄₃ innings.

“He was in complete control of the strike zone, adding, subtracting with all of his pitches,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

The Rockies got a solid effort throughout their lineup, with seven different players driving in runs and six players scoring, but the unsung hero was shortstop Cristhian Adames, who was 3-for-4 with an RBI triple and a run scored.

“It’s good to see Cristhian have a good day today, he’s a good player who’s been in a tough role this season,” Weiss said.

The Rockies will now look to sweep the doubleheader and the series tonight at 6:10 p.m. Mountain time as Jeff Hoffman takes on Bud Norris.