DENVER -- Jorge De La Rosa can easily put a finger on what went right for him -- his middle digit no longer hampered him.

Simple as that.

De La Rosa threw six solid innings with a healing cut on the tip of his middle finger, Michael McKenry homered and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday.

The game was a makeup of a rainout on May 9.

De La Rosa (2-2) had his start pushed back twice because of a cut he developed from the seams on a baseball. The lefty allowed three runs and struck out six for his 71st win with the Rockies, one shy of matching Aaron Cook's team record.

"It was good," said De La Rosa, who had his finger wrapped in black tape after the game. "A little sore. But I was able to keep pitching."

Ian Thomas (0-1) allowed four runs in three innings after taking over for Juan Nicasio, who made a spot start against his former team. Thomas was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to be the 26th man for the doubleheader.

Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson hit his 15th home run, a shot estimated at 477 feet and one of the longer drives in the majors this season. It was a two-run homer in the third.

Pederson has two homers already in June. He had nine in May, which tied the Dodgers record for most by a rookie in a calendar month. James Loney accomplished the feat in September 2007.

"We knew the talent was there, the swing was there," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "The best is yet to come."

De La Rosa ran into trouble in the fifth when he loaded the bases and walked Adrian Gonzalez, tying it at 3. He struck out Howie Kendrick -- on his 42nd pitch of the inning -- to escape more trouble.

Asked what went wrong that inning, De La Rosa simply responded, "I want to know, too. I lost my mechanics there."

McKenry hit a two-run homer in the fourth and added an RBI single an inning later. Ben Paulsen hit a solo homer and Nolan Arenado finished with two hits, including an RBI single.

Nicasio allowed one run over two innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter. It was his first start since June 15, 2014, when he was with Colorado. The Rockies later moved Nicasio to the bullpen before dealing him to Los Angeles in the offseason, where he's emerged as a reliable reliever for the Dodgers.

"Juan was good doing something he hadn't done in a while," Mattingly said. "I thought his stuff was really good today.

"We just didn't do enough to deserve the win."

SCARY MOMENT

Dodgers reliever J.P. Howell had a pretty sizable welt on his right biceps after being hit by a line drive from DJ LeMahieu in the sixth.

"It didn't hit me in the face so I'm pretty happy," Howell said. "It was lucky. I'll take that anytime."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Scott Van Slyke was put on the 15-day DL with back inflammation. "We think it's a rest thing," Mattingly said. ... RHP Joel Peralta (shoulder soreness) threw on and off the mound Monday.

Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson (plantar fasciitis) said he's experiencing no pain in his foot and hopes to start playing soon. ... Manager Walt Weiss said he's been in contact with 1B Justin Morneau, who's been on the seven-day concussion disabled list since mid-May. "It's difficult for Justin, given his history (with concussions)," Weiss said. "This is a process and have to wait it out." ... RHP Jordan Lyles (sprained left big toe) was walking around in a boot. "Don't know if he's going to need surgery or not," Weiss said.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: RHP Zack Greinke (5-1, 1.48) will pitch the night game. He's 2-0 in six career starts at Coors Field.

Rockies: Righty David Hale (1-0, 2.70) was added as a 26th player and will pitch the second game.