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SF@LAD: Lilly strikes out six over six innings

When Ted Lilly came into Spring Training this season, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly could immediately tell something was different about the left-hander.

"Lilly just seemed sharper coming into spring and it really has shown so far this season," Mattingly said.

A veteran who has been in the Majors more than a decade, Lilly has started the season 4-0 for the first time in his career and has a minuscule 1.41 ERA. He's also in the midst of a career-long seven-game winning streak, going 7-0 with a 1.03 ERA in his last eight starts.

The lefty will try and keep that streak going in Sunday's series finale against the Rockies as the Dodgers go for a three-game sweep at Chavez Ravine.

Lilly got the win on Monday against the Giants, tallying his fifth straight quality start to open the season. In six innings, he surrendered just one run on four hits, while striking out six.

"I was able to get the changeup over for strikes when I needed to, and that really was the difference," Lilly said after the start.

Meanwhile, Alex White will be on the hill for the Rockies, making his second start of the season since being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

In his first start on Tuesday, the right-hander gave up two runs on six hits against the Padres but still took the loss. White, who struck out five, had smoother mechanics and a more explosive sinker and slider.

"It allowed me to take a couple of steps back and breathe," White said of his time in Triple-A. "During Spring Training I was trying to do too much. Being sent down let me relax. It allowed me to manage my effort level.

"When I went to Colorado Springs, I knew that I needed to work on a lot of things. I embraced the opportunity."

Rockies: De La Rosa leaves rehab start
Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa was removed after one inning of his injury rehab start Saturday night at Double-A Tulsa as a precaution because of forearm tightness, the Tulsa World newspaper reported via Twitter on Saturday night.

De La Rosa, returning from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last year, had made two starts at Class A Modesto. On Saturday against Arkansas, he gave up five hits and four runs while throwing 28 first-inning pitches.

• Outfielder Tyler Colvin started in center field, instead of Dexter Fowler, on Saturday against the Dodgers, and manager Jim Tracy said Colvin -- hitting .315 with three home runs and 11 RBIs -- has earned greater opportunity to start.

"In any given situation he's made the most of it, whether it's starting a game, coming off the bench," Tracy said. "We've gotten quality at-bats from him as a starter. He's done a terrific job as a left-handed pinch-hitter."

Dodgers: Hamstring strain slows down Kemp
While Matt Kemp may be on pace to slug 60 home runs, he's stolen only two stolen bases with the season roughly 20 percent over.

Kemp was only 2-for-5 in attempts before his left hamstring strain.

Kemp and manager Don Mattingly are in agreement that his bat is too valuable in the lineup to take chances by doing anything "stupid," as Kemp puts it.

Worth noting
• The Rockies are third in the National League in RBIs by their outfielders. Colorado has 66 RBIs by them, trailing just the Cardinals and the Dodgers.

• The Dodgers are 25-13 against the Rockies over the past five seasons at Dodger Stadium.

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