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DENVER (AP) — Justin Morneau headed for second with his mind on triple but resisted the urge to try to stretch a double.
"I was thinking about it but at the same time you want to play the game the right way," Morneau said. "Getting thrown out by 20 feet in a 9-0 game can look kind of selfish so you don't really want to do that."
That was the only thing that didn't go his or the Colorado Rockies' way Wednesday.
Morneau tied a season high with six RBIs, including five as part of an eight-run first inning against spot starter Carlos Frias, and the Rockies routed the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 16-2.
Morneau hit a three-run homer and a two-run single in the opening frame as the last-place Rockies chased Frias (0-1) after just two outs. Morneau and Carlos Gonzalez are the only Rockies players to drive in five runs in an inning.
"You play this game a long time you see some things you've never seen," Morneau said. "Obviously having guys on base is important. You wouldn't expect us to come out against a guy like that who's got really good stuff. He was a guy we were ready for and we were able to get some hits."
Charlie Blackmon went 5 for 5 with a solo homer as the Rockies took two of three from the Dodgers. Los Angeles began the day with a three-game division lead over San Francisco, but trailed 15-0 after six innings against the team with the worst record in the league.
Morneau had three hits and a sacrifice fly, raising his average to .320 and leaping over Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison for the NL batting lead.
"It's an ideal situation to get up there with a chance to drive in wins or contribute to a win," Morneau said. "Obviously every time you go up there you're trying to get a hit so it's not really any different.
Jorge De La Rosa (14-11) gave up two hits in six scoreless innings to improve to 10-2 at home this season.
Frias gave up 10 hits, including seven straight to start the game, and eight runs. According to information provided to the teams by the Elias Sports Bureau, he's the first pitcher in the modern era to allow 10 hits while getting less than three outs.
"I think it was one of those days we got on a roll and it was tough to stop," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "It wasn't that he wasn't throwing the ball well; he probably had some balls in the middle of the plate."
The hard-throwing Frias didn't record a traditional out, either, in his 38-pitch appearance. He got one when catcher Tim Federowicz threw out Corey Dickerson on a steal attempt and another when Wilin Rosario tried to score from third on a squeeze play.
This hardly looked like the same Dodgers team that was coming off a big series win in San Francisco that included a 17-0 romp over the Giants. Los Angeles is chasing Washington for the best record in the NL.
The Dodgers needed an eight-run sixth inning to get by the Rockies on Monday, and then stranded runner after runner Tuesday in a 10-4 loss.
MASTER OF HIS DOMAIN
Coors Field hasn't been a house of horrors for De La Rosa. He finished the 2014 home campaign 10-2 with a 3.08 ERA in 15 starts at Coors Field.
OFFENSIVE ATTACK
The Rockies have now scored eight runs in an inning twice this season. They also did it against the Mets on May 3. Their 21 hits tied a season high set May 6 against Texas.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado remains sidelined with a bruised chest and pneumonia.
UP NEXT
Rockies: LHP Yohan Flande (0-5) moves back into the rotation after spending the last month as a reliever. He'll try for his first major league win when the Rockies host Arizona on Thursday.
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