Rockies Win Third Straight Over Astros 13-5
Michael Cuddyer's first inning grand slam, and Carlos Gonzales' three home runs helped power the Colorado Rockies (20-29) to their third straight win over the Houston Astros (22-28) 13-5 last night in Denver. The final frame of the four-game series is tonight at 6:40 at Coors Field (TV: Root Sports).
Gonzalez punished Astros pitching in lifting the Rockies to their first three-game winning streak since April 17-20. There was plenty of help on Wednesday. Michael Cuddyer launched a first-inning grand slam and Dexter Fowler, who is almost as hot as Gonzalez lately, hit a three-run homer during the Rockies' six-run sixth.
"I won a batting title in 2010 swinging at everything, swinging at balls," Gonzalez said. "When things like this happen, they happen. I have a really good swing. When the ball is close to the plate, I know I can reach any ball, inside or outside. But right now, I feel really good at the plate and I have more discipline."
Gonzalez broke a 5-5 tie with a homer off Astros starter Lucas Harrell (4-4) to open the fifth. In the sixth, Fowler hit his eighth homer of the year, and second in as many games, off Rhiner Cruz for a 10-6 lead. Gonzalez then launched a two-run shot off Xavier Cedeno to make it 12-6. Gonzalez finished the night by taking David Carpenter deep over the right-field wall in the eighth for his team-leading 13th homer and 41st RBI.
Official: Wednesday's Box Score.
All of that offensive production might have gone unrewarded had rookie lefty starter Christian Friedrich (3-1) not righted himself after a tough early going. Friedrich took a 5-1 lead into the third inning only to give up four runs on four hits, including Chris Snyder's two-run double, as the Astros tied the score.
Friedrich fought off trouble the next two innings, pitching around Jose Altuve's one-out double in the fourth and a first-and-third, one-out jam in the fifth before he fanned Snyder and Harrell. But after Gonzalez's go-ahead homer, Friedrich shut down the Astros in a perfect sixth.
Tickets are available for tonight’s game at Coors Field vs. the Houston Astros, and can be purchased by calling (800) 388-ROCK, or click here.
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