Rockies bury D’Backs with seven-run eighth
The Colorado Rockies were meandering toward another loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks when they erupted for their biggest inning of the season and scored seven runs with two out in the eighth inning. The rally, which included a go-ahead, three-run homer by Troy Tulowitzki, his 30th of the season, brought the Rockies an 8-3 victory and ended their six-game losing streak to the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks had scored single runs in the seventh and eighth, aided by catcher Wilin Rosario and third baseman Jordan Pacheco, both making their major league debuts, to take a 3-1 lead into the eighth.
With two out and a runner on first in the eighth, Mark Ellis singled, and Carlos Gonzalez followed with a run-scoring single. Tulowitzki homered on David Hernandez’s 0-1 pitch, his second three-run homer in two games, to give the Rockies a 5-3 lead.
Ty Wigginton followed with a single that ended the night for Hernandez. After being lifted from the game, Hernandez voiced his displeasure with home plate umpire Tim Tichenor and was ejected. Joe Paterson didn’t retire the three batters he faced, giving up a run-scoring triple to Seth Smith, his second triple of the game, walking Rosario and giving up run-scoring single to Pacheco.
Sam Demel hit Kouzmanoff with a pitch to load the bases and walked Dexter Fowler to force in the final run.
Jason Hammel, making a spot start because Jhoulys Chacin has been pushed back until Friday, gave up six hits and two runs, one earned, in seven innings. Hammel’s start was reminiscent of April when he went 3-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five starts.
Pacheco, who went 2-for-4, singled on his first at bat in the big leagues. His one-out grounder in the fifth scored Smith, who led off the inning with a triple, with the Rockies first run. Playing just his sixth professional game at third base, Pacheco handled four ground balls and a line drive _ all of the plays routine _ and caught Tulowitzki’s relay throw and put a nice tag on John McDonald to end the second when McDonald tried to stretch a double into a triple.
Pacheco made a throwing error in the eighth when he charged Miguel Montero’s bouncer but threw wide of first baseman Wigginton. Aaron Hill, who had doubled with one out, scored on the play.
Rosario went 0-for-3 with a strikeout against Brad Ziegler, whose arm angle is close to being a submariner, and a walk. Rosario was guilty of a passed ball in the seventh after Paul Goldschmidt led off with a double. And Gerardo Parra singled with one out to put Arizona ahead 2-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, a freak play cost the Rockies a run. With one out and runners on first and second, the Rockies pulled off a double steal. Eric Young Jr., who was on third base, then broke for home when Ziegler threw a wild pitch. The ball rebounded right back to catcher Miguel Montero, who tagged Young out _ although replays showed he might have been safe.
Other highlights:
_ Matt Belisle, who retired the one batter he faced in the eighth, was the winning pitcher. He’s 10-4 and became the second Rockies reliever to win 10 games in a season. Gabe White won 11 games in relief in 2000.
_ The last time the Rockies scored as many as seven runs in an inning was July 30, 2010, against the Cubs when they set a franchise record with 12 runs in the eighth inning.
_ The Rockies had not beaten the Diamondbacks since July 23. In addition to losing six straight to them, the Rockies had lost 12 of their first 16 games to the Diamondbacks.
_ Fowler went 0-for-4 with a walk, ending his six-game hitting streak.
_ Smith is the first Rockies to have two triples in a game since Fowler on Aug. 29, 2010, against the Dodgers.
_ Tulowitzki is two shy of his career-high in home runs. He hit 32 homers in 2009.
_ Hammel pitched seven innings for the first time since June 28 against the White Sox. This was just the sixth time in 26 starts this season that he had just one walk.
I didn’t watch the game. Aside from the passed ball, how did Rosario look defensively. Great game by Hammel; it’s exasperating how good he can be in some games and how bad he can be in other games.
I’m just thankful Kirk Gibson didn’t walk Tulo intentionally after a wild pitch put runners on second and third in the eighth.
Why? Because Wigginton was on deck and his batting with men on base is an abysmal .204; it’s even worse with RISP (17-107, .159). And with bases loaded, he’s 1-for-14 (.071).
Would you rather face Wigginton with the bases loaded or Tulo with two on? Fortunately, Gibby chose the latter.
Well Alex,that proves that we don’t have the only manager who makes bad decisions on occasions.Also,the snakes have owned Tulo all season.He has been pitiful against them until the past 2 late outbursts.That said,I would have walked him and watched Wiggy strike out per usual!
I’m instituting a $5 fine for anyone who says Smith can’t hit lefty’s.
I’m glad SF won, not because I like the Giants any more than the DBacks, but just because it makes AZ a little less comfortable. Let’s win the series. Go Rockies!
At this point baseball should want the Rox to do all they can so there can be another pennent race. Nice to see Tulo finally come up big in the late inning clutch. Maybe this can be the crack that finally sets the dam breaking, and he will finally be ready to a league MVP…if the Roxs matter next year.
I dont need to be excited about Hammel or just glad that such performances might increase his tradability.
But yes, Miketober, lets see what Smith does against lefties (he might be playing for is Rockies uni next year, and I think he can do it) and yes yes, win the series and Go Rockies!
I found it interesting the Rockies TV Booth, sorry, forget whom, was discussing Parada of the DBacks. They were saying as long as he gets regular at bats he’s going to be a good hitter. But if he is in the lineup sporadically his hitting really suffers. Which is why he had a so so at best year last year.
Gee I thought, what an interesting idea, let your regulars play on a regular basis, regardless of the opposing pitcher, day of the week, time of the day, what have you. We should try that……
Smith can’t hit lefty’s!!!
LOL, jk
Ka-ching!
Wow, talk about kicking a team when their down. A national talking head show seems to be thinking similar to Miketober. More pressure on the Dbacks.
Yep, a proclamation was made to not count out the Giants. And why not? Because of their remaining schedule. It was alleged they have the easiest schedule to finish out the season. And why is that? Look no further than the Rockies remaining schedule. Yep you guessed it. We still have 7 games with them. We close out the season in SF. I guess the Rockies have lost the respect of the national media.
looking forward to being the team that drives the final stake in SF’s playoff heart. What they forget is the giants were red hot the final month in 2010. Just the opposite here. They are finding out scoring 2 runs a game ain’t getting it done..that and Timmy’s .500 record. Welcome back to reality Giant fans.
Read an article on Gibson coaching the D-backs. The one point that every player appreciated was if they had an off game or made a mistake, Gibson never pulled a knee jerk reaction and sat the player. They knew they would be back in the lineup the following day regardless. Don’t get the same feeling here the last few months.
Well, when a team is 67-75, 14 games out, and the rotation is a mix of so-so veteran “innings eaters” and hope & dreams, respect is going to be hard to come by. Is it just me, or is being an innings eater pitcher in baseball a lot like being a game manager quarterback in football? You know, someone who really isn’t very good, but they manage not to completely stink.
Chad, I think you’re right on. “Innings eater” is exactly the same thing as “game manager.” Kevin Millwood is Charlie Batch! Awesome! (Not joking – I like both those guys.)