Bud Norris delivers for Dodgers

LOS ANGELES >> Pitcher Bud Norris doesn’t own any Cy Young Awards, much less three.

But the veteran right-hander did his best imitation of the Dodgers’ absent three-time Cy Young wier Friday, expertly handling one of the league’s hottest offenses in a 5-0 series-opening victory over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

Norris (4-7) threw six shutout iings, allowing just two hits, one walk and struck out eight as a fill-in for Clayton Kershaw, who went on the disabled list Thursday because of a heiated disc in his lower back.

“I do know Bud as a competitor and he’s an amazing starter,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “His last few starts have been as good as anybody in the National League. We’re looking forward to him doing what he’s been doing.”

Norris was unflappable in his Dodgers debut, no doubt a by-product of being a nine-year veteran who has seen his share of unusual situations. This one, however, might have been the strangest.

The Dodgers quickly acquired Norris from the Atlanta Braves in a five-player trade Thursday as a replacement for Kershaw. The Dodgers’ ace had complained about stiffness after his last game, a loss in Pittsburgh.

Kershaw, who was making a serious case for his fourth Cy Young Award in six seasons, flew back to Los Angeles from Milwaukee and received an epidural to alleviate the pain. He had been scheduled to start Friday.

Instead, Norris took Kershaw’s place on the mound and delivered an impressive performance. Norris didn’t make anyone forget Kershaw, who leads the majors with a 1.79 ERA, but for six iings fans and team officials could sit back and relax.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Adrian Gonzalez’s RBI single that scored Chase Utley. Utley reached base on a walk and advanced to third on Corey Seager’s hard-hit single to right.

Seager, who has hit safely in 14 consecutive games, scored on Trayce Thompson’s ground ball single to short. The Dodgers center fielder appeared to beat the throw to first, sending the crowd of 43,644 into a brief frenzy over the prospect of a 2-0 lead.

The Rockies challenged the call at first and the video review showed Thompson didn’t beat the throw and the Dodgers had to be content with a one-run edge. For the time being.

The Dodgers added a second run in the seventh on a balk by Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa, sending Howie Kendrick across the plate. De La Rosa (5-5) had allowed ruers to advance to second and third on a passed ball.

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The Dodgers padded their lead with three more runs in the eighth.

The Rockies, who came into the game with a league-best .276 batting average, struggled to make contact. Left fielder Brandon Baes managed to send an 86-mph slider to the center field wall but Thompson made a leaping catch to save a potential two-run home run in the fifth.

“Bud’s a pro,” catcher A.J. Ellis said. “He’s been doing this for a long time so he’ll come in and do what he can to give us a chance to win. We will let him do his thing today and we’ll start to get to know him tomorrow.”