Hot-Hitting Rockies Top Brewers 8-6
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood pitched six strong innings, and Eric Young, Jr. and Wilin Rosario homered for the Colorado Rockies (43-71) who topped the visiting Milwaukee Brewers (52-63) 8-6 last night in Denver. Colorado will go for the series sweep this afternoon at 1:10 at Coors Field (TV: none).
Chatwood (3-2), who began the year in the Rockies bullpen but didn't adjust to relief (7.62 ERA in seven appearances) and spent much of the season in the Minors, held the Brewers to two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out three against no walks. It was a follow-up to his five scoreless innings in the Rockies' 3-0 shutout of the Giants on Friday night.
"I don't think I struggled that bad out of the bullpen, but it's definitely good to be back in the rotation and be in a routine again," said Chatwood.
The game, which included Wilin Rosario's impressive 19th homer in his rookie season and an unlikely monster two-run shot by Eric Young Jr., featured plenty of drama.
Matt Belisle had to strike out Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Braun with the bases loaded to escape the eighth. The Brewers scored three runs on three hits off reliever Rex Brothers in the ninth. With the tying runs on base, Braun launched a fly ball to center but Dexter Fowler caught it to end the game and put away Rafael Betancourt's 21st save in 26 chances.
Official: Tuesday's Box Score.
By beating the Brewers Monday and Tuesday, the Rockies clinched their first home series victory since June 1-3 against the Dodgers, an unusual drought for a team traditionally strong at home. But they haven't had many starts like the last two -- by Jeff Francis and Chatwood.
Chatwood had just one difficult inning. Carlos Gomez opened the third with a single and took second on shortstop Josh Rutledge's throwing error, and scored on Norichika Aoki's infield single. However, Fowler's diving catch in center robbed Rickie Weeks of extra bases to end the inning.
The only other run against Chatwood was on Martin Maldonado's leadoff homer in the fifth, but the right-hander went on to retire his final six batters.
Carlos Gonzalez, who has remained steady even though opposing pitchers are giving him little to hit in the absence of Troy Tulowitzki (left groin surgery), added four hits, including a two-run single in the first. It was, however, an eventful night for Gonzalez on the bases. He was thrown out at second trying to stretch his third-inning single, and was caught stealing twice -- once on a Wolf pickoff.
Tickets are available for this afternoon's game at Coors Field vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, and can be purchased by calling (800) 388-ROCK, or click here.
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