PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- Carlos Ruiz scored two goals as the Los Angeles Galaxy beat the Colorado Rapids 4-0 on Saturday night in Game 1 of their MLS semifinal series.

Los Angeles goalkeeper Kevin Hartman stopped John Spencer's first-half penalty kick, and made seven saves for the Galaxy before a Rose Bowl crowd announced at 24,742.

Danny Califf and Ezra Hendrickson also scored.

"Whenever you score four goals, people look at the offense, but I thought defensively, we played very, very well in the first half,'' Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said.

Los Angeles, which had the best record in the regular season to earn the top seeding in the playoffs, received three points for the victory. The first team to five points will win the series.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Denver. If the Rapids win, Game 3 would be played next Saturday at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Stadium because of a UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl.

Califf opened the scoring in the 21st minute, heading in Cobi Jones' corner kick. Ruiz made it 2-0 in the 24th minute, taking a pass from Alejandro Moreno and putting a shot past goalkeeper David Kramer.

Referee Kevin Terry awarded the Rapids a penalty kick in the 36th minute, ruling that Moreno tripped Ritchie Kotschau from behind in the penalty area. Hartman guessed correctly on Spencer's kick, diving to the left and knocking the ball over the crossbar.

Hendrickson scored in the 71st minute, and Ruiz added his second goal of the game and league-leading sixth of the playoffs in the 84th minute.

"Our team's play was poor,'' Colorado coach Tim Hankinson said. "The battle of the game is being able to do better than the guy you're against and I think LA outplayed us at every position. When that happens, and you make some defensive mistakes, you put yourself in a hole that's very difficult to get out of.''