Hekker, kicker Greg Zuerlein, and long snapper Jake McQuaid

LOS ANGELES -- Fourteen months later, Brandon McCarthy surprised himself by shaking off the nerves he expected to have in his first start after more than a year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.I thought thered be more, but once I started getting loose it felt very normal, he said.McCarthy settled down to throw five scoreless innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 victory Sunday over the Colorado Rockies.Weirdly, it almost felt like Id taken a week off since last year. It felt like a continuation. That was a nice surprise. In the past, Ive had that before after a rehab where Ive come out and felt like a hyped-up rookie.McCarthy (1-0) held the Rockies to a pair of singles in his first major league start since April 25, 2015. He struck out eight and walked one.The Dodgers won their ninth straight at home and their sixth game in seven overall, powered by solo homers by Trace Thompson and Yasmani Grandal.Instead of crumbling after getting the news that Clayton Kershaw was headed for the disabled list, the Dodgers have won four straight.I think Kersh will tell you everyone is the same here, Thompson said. Obviously, were not. In our eyes hes the best player in baseball. We cant replace Clayton Kershaw. Everybody just has to do a little bit more, thats all it really is.Thompson homered to right-center off Rockies starter Jon Gray (5-4) to lead off the second inning, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.Grandal led off the eighth with a home run off reliever Chad Qualls that landed over the left-center field wall, just beyond the grasp of a leaping Charlie Blackmon.Daniel Descalso provided the Rockies only run with a homer on a 3-2 pitch from reliever Casey Fein with one out in the seventh.The Rockies were unable to get a baserunner past second base in the three-game series, scoring their only runs on solo homers by Descalso and Nolan Arenado. In the series, they managed just 12 hits in the three games while striking out a combined 41 times.It was just a terrible series. Way too many strikeouts, said Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez. Not creating situations for each other. It was just bad overall.I feel like the entire series was our fault. The pitchers did a great job. (Jorge De La Rosa) gave us a chance to win and we didnt. Gray pitched great today. You just have to blame it on the offense. You cant win if you dont score.Corey Seager lined a hard single to right in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 16 games, tying him with Miamis Marcel Ozuna for the longest in the National League this season. Seager went 2 for 4 and is hitting .415 during the streak (25 for 67).Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save.Justin Turner had a one-out, RBI single in the second, his eighth hit in his last four games.The victory gave the Dodgers their fifth series sweep of the season, and their first over the Rockies since April 17-19, 2015.For McCarthy, the start was his fifth in a Dodgers uniform since signing a four-year, $48 million contract before last season. He was 3-0 in four starts before the elbow injury that required surgery.KERSHAW CLUBSince getting the news that Kershaw was going on the disabled list, Los Angeles starters (Kenta Maeda, Bud Norris, Scott Kazmir and McCarthy) over the last four games have given up one run and eight hits in 23 innings.LIGHTS OUT IN LAThe Rockies have scored just two runs in their last four games in Los Angeles, and one run or less in seven of their last 10 games, dating back to May 17, 2015. The Rockies are 5-17 in Los Angeles since June 16, 2014.RINSE, REPEATThe Dodgers came into Sundays game with a 46-37 record, the identical 83-game mark they posted in both 2014 and 2015.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (back), sidelined since June 18, will start for the Rockies against the Giants. ... SS Trevor Story was much, much better as he recovers from a finger injury, manager Walt Weiss said. Hes swinging in the cage and looks really good. Its just a matter of if he gets jammed or hits a ball off the end of the bat, how is it going to affect him. Story pinch-hit in the eighth and struck out.Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu could return to the Dodgers rotation as early as this week, said Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman. Ryu has made eight rehab starts as he recovers from surgery to repair his left shoulder, which has sidelined him since the beginning of the 2015 season. The Dodgers are deciding if Ryu needs one more rehab start.NEXT UPRockies: LHP Tyler Anderson will make his fifth start of his career Monday against the San Francisco Giants. The Rockies are 1/3 in Andersons four starts and have scored a combined three runs while Anderson has been pitching.Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias (1-2,4.09) makes the eighth start of his career Monday in the July 4 opener of a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles, his first interleague start. In his last five starts, Urias is 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.Joe Namath Jersey . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. Darrell Henderson Womens Jersey .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.footballramsshop.us/authentic-deacon-jones-rams-jersey/ .35 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Plouffe batted .254 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs in 477 at-bats last season, his second as a regular in the lineup. Andrew Whitworth Rams Jersey . Any real chance at payback wont come until the playoff. Still, Pittsburgh knows its taut 3-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night is a pretty good place to start laying the groundwork. "They are a very good defensive team," Penguins forward Brandon Sutter said. David Long Rams JerseyIRVINE, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson remembers when he was a rookie determined to make a name for himself on special teams.I knew that you do good on special teams, you get on the field. I took pride in that, Johnson said.Johnson is now a firmly established part of the Rams defense, allowing him to enjoy the increased intensity of Mondays practice focused entirely on special teams. Without fans in attendance for the first time during training camp at UC Irvine, the Rams more than made up for the possible energy deficit during spirited drills as George Thorogoods Bad to the Bone blared over the speakers.Man, this is the most exciting practice for me to see what young guys come up and step up, Johnson said. This is the first day in pads, so you know its going to be physical.Set to play under the franchise tag after he and the Rams failed to come to terms on a long-term extension, Johnson refused to discuss those negotiations, saying that he would let his play do the talking and address his contract status after the season ends.Instead, Johnson singled out former Auburn wide receiver Duke Williams as one youngster that impressed. As an undrafted rookie free agent who struggled with dropped passes during the first two practices, carving out a role on special teams might be Williams best path to a roster spot.Special teams coordinator John Fassel pointed out the success the Rams have had in recent years with players that initially made the roster because of their special teams contributions and have gradually built a larger role. That group includes safeties Maurice Alexander and Cody Davis and running back Benny Cunningham.If its a toss-up at a certain position, then truump card is special teams, Fassel said.ddddddddddddWeve been fortunate the last couple years that Coach (Jeff) Fisher recognizes that and picks a guy out that looks like they might have some potential to play 25 snaps a game on special teams. Three, four, five guys a year find that role and then perform.After teaching technique during organized team activities, Fassels focus is now on seeing those lessons put into practice. Fassel said these early practices are especially telling, given how little special teams film exists for most college starters.Youre looking for guys that can run, Fassel said. Whos doing the right thing? Whos fighting and scrapping?The Rams already have a steady group of specialists in punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Greg Zuerlein, and long snapper Jake McQuaide, with wide receiver Tavon Austin and Cunningham excelling on returns. With a strong nucleus already in place, Fassel wants the Rams to cut down on penalties and create better field position for the offense.Johnson recognized that effort when Alexander spun down a teammate during a joint blocking and coverage drill, giving his fellow defensive back a subtle chest bump. He might not play much on special teams anymore, but Johnson still has pride in what happens there.Game notesWide receiver Tavon Austin returned to action after leaving Sundays practice early due to cramps. . Hekker wore No. 3 during practice as a tribute to former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler, who was killed in a car accident in Wisconsin on July 23.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '