Seven Runs Not Enough As Rockies Fall To Reds 9-7
The offense came alive for the Colorado Rockies (37-62) last night, producing seven runs, which unfortunately was two fewer than the NL Central leading Cincinnati Reds (60-40), who hit five homers and topped the Rockies 9-7 last night in Denver. The final game of the series is this afternoon at 1:10 at Coors Field (TV: Root Sports).
Michael Cuddyer hit a home run for the Rockies but the Reds smacked five -- three off Rockies starter Christian Friedrich -- to validate Coors Field's reputation as the best launching pad in the Majors. The ballpark, a mile above sea level, has seen 146 homers, one more than Yankee Stadium.
Such distinction has largely been at the expense of the Rockies pitching staff, which entered the day with the Majors' worst ERA and fewest innings pitched. Friedrich's seven runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings didn't do anything to correct that.
Cuddyer's two-run blast -- nearly snagged by left fielder Ryan Ludwick -- in the seventh inning off reliever Jose Arredondo brought the Rockies to within a run, but Wilin Rosario struck out and Jordan Pacheco flied out to right to end the inning.
The fourth home loss in a row, played in front of 42,826, drops the Rockies to 20-31 at home.
"A loss is a loss," Todd Helton said. "We're a team. We've got to score more runs than the other team and we didn't do that tonight."
The way the game began, it didn't look like the Rockies would have a problem doing that. They finished the first inning with a 3-0 lead, thanks to hits by the first four batters in the lineup, including a two-run single by Carlos Gonzalez.
Their lead was erased after Friedrich surrendered solo shots to Ludwick, Todd Frazier and Drew Stubbs, but the Rockies responded with another run off Reds starter Johnny Cueto in the third.
Official: Saturday's Box Score.
But Friedrich (5-8) just couldn't keep any lead his offense provided before giving way in the fifth inning after Stubbs plated a run with a single up the middle. The lefty gave up just six hits, the second time in his career he's been tagged for more hits than runs.
Josh Roenicke came on in relief to face Brandon Phillips, who knocked a two-run double to dead center. Roenicke also gave up a solo homer to Scott Rolen in the sixth inning.
The Rockies had the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame, but Cueto (13-5) got Dexter Fowler to chop into a force at third base to end the inning.
A scoring window in the bottom of the eighth inning, when DJ LeMahieu led off with a double, was quickly closed. LeMahieu moved to third on Eric Young's flyout to center but was stranded as Josh Rutledge popped up to second and Gonzalez struck out swinging against Sean Marshall.
Tickets are available for this afternoon's game at Coors Field vs. the Cincinnati Reds, and can be purchased by calling (800) 388-ROCK, or click here.
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