Rockies Register

The Diamondbacks bats woke up back at home in the desert after going cold in Chicago. The D’backs pounded out 15 hits, 13 off Rockies starter Jeff Francis, on their way to an 8-4 win. Each of the Diamondbacks 1-5 hitters had at least two hits in the game, with Chris Young leading the way with three.

Stephen Drew had a huge three run homer to deep right field off Jeff Francis, among his two hits. He scored two runs along with driving in the three runs. Orlando Hudson had two hits and two runs batted in. Conor Jackson and Justin Upton each had two hits as well. Randy Johnson got in the act, blasting a ball off the wall that went for a single after he fell going around first base.

Johnson was strong on the hill after receiving huge offensive backing. He went five innings, allowing four runs and nine hits but did not walk a hitter and struck out four. He took the win to improve to 3-1 on the year. He continues to work his way closer to 300 wins in his career. The win was number 287 of his career.

Jeff Francis remained winless, dropping to 0-4. He was rocked in 4.2 innings, giving up a whopping 13 hits and all eight of the Diamondbacks runs. Five Rockies managed to put up two hits in the game. Garrett Atkins had two runs, and an RBI on a solo homer, his seventh of the year. Jeff Baker drove in two runs in the losing effort. Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday, Ryan Spilborghs, and Javier Herrera were the others with two hits.

Greg Reynolds, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 Draft, had about as good a debut as anyone could have hoped for. The 21 year old right hander went 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and four runs. The Rockies bats did not show up to back him, and they plated just one run in the 6-1 loss to the Padres.

Reynolds also walked two, and had one K in his first big league start. Chris Young was more than up to the challenge on the other side. He went six innings giving up only one run and punching out seven Rockies.  Young gave up just five hits.

Tadahito Iguchi had three hits in the game, scoring a run and driving in another. He added his sixth stolen base in the game as well. Kevin Kouzmanhoff also had two hits. Khalil Green and Scott Hairston each had a homer in the game.

No Rockie had two hits. They managed just the five hits off Young as the Padres bullpen allowed the Rockies no chances to get back in the game.

The Rockies have a day off then head for Arizona for a set with the Diamondbacks.

Greg Maddux joined elite company Saturday. In his fifth attempt to win his 350th game, he succeeded. He got the victory over the Rockies by a score of 3-2.

Maddux gave up just three hits in six innings, only allowing one unearned run.

Ubaldo Jimenez had his most impressive start of the year for the Rockies. He made just one lone mistake to Adrian Gonzalez, who blasted a three run homer to deep left field. It was his ninth of the year. Unfortunately, the Rockies forgot their hitting skills and could not stop Maddux from taking the win.

Jimenez K’d 11 batters through 6.2 innings. He gave up only five hits, and three earned runs. Each team had just five hits in the game. Clint Barmes was the lone Rockie with two hits.

The Padres stole four bases in the game, three of the pair of Jimenez and Yorvit Torrealba. Trevor Hoffman earned his sixth save of the year by throwing a scoreless ninth.

Aaron Cook had his best outing of the year, allowing just three hits in seven innings to beat the Padres 4-2. Garrett Atkins had three hits and Brad Hawpe drove in two runs to back the victory. Cook improved to 6-1 on the year.

Jake Peavy took the loss for the Padres, dropping to 4-2. He gave up three runs in six innings off seven hits. He also racked up six K’s. He scored one of the Padres two runs.

Kevin Kouzmanhoff hit a solo homer in the ninth, to pull the Padres within two, but that was as close as they would get. Matt Holliday homered for the Rockies in the eighth leading off the inning. It was his sixth of the year. Holliday scored two runs, and drove in one on the homer.
Clint Barmes had two hits, and Willy Tavares also had a two hit game.

The Rockies put together a mini two game win streak by taking two straight from the Cardinals, this one by a score of 9-3. A four run outburst, continuing the hot hitting from the previous night, put the Rockies up and they never trailed in the game.

Jorge De La Rosa used the early support to notch his first win of the year. He allowed just five hits and two runs in 5.2 innings. Matt Holliday had a huge game to back up the efforts of De La Rosa. He had four singles in the game, in five trips to the plate, and scored three runs. Omar Quintanilla had his third straight solid hitting game. He had three hits, and two runs in the game. Garrett Atkins had a double and a triple, scoring two and driving in two.

Last night’s hear, Chris Iannetta, had a hit and two driven in. He made his fifth straight start behind the plate.

Kyle Lohse struggled to retire any of the Rockies. He lasted just four innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs, all earned. He also walked five hitters.

Ryan Ludwick had his third straight huge offensive game. Two nights after going 4-4, he hit two homers today, after hitting one out yesterday. Both were solo homers. Yadier Molina also had two hits for St. Louis.

The Rockies got a big win Wednesday night. Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Rockies needed a spark to start something quickly. They got it, and reeled off four runs to win 4-3.

Jason Isringhausen picked up the blown save and the loss, and Justin Speier picked up his first win. Adam Wainright had put up a great start, giving up no runs in seven innings and just four hits. He left in a great position to lead, but the bullpen could not hold the win down for him.

Jeff Francis remained winless. He went six innings and gave up all three runs the Cardinals scored. He also walked five. Omar Quintanilla had two hits, and six Rockies each had one hit. Ryan Spilbroughs had the big hit in the eighth inning rally, with two outs and two runners on, he kept the inning alive with a single that scored a run. Chris Ianetta then drove him home and one other run, to take the lead over a two run triple.

Aaron Miles and Ryan Ludwick each had two hits for the Cardinals.

Will Tavares had a little revenge on Rick Ankiel, picking up an outfield assist throwing him out at first two days after Ankiel nailed Tavares trying to take third.

Rick Ankiel provided the offensive firepower, and the cannon attached to his left shoulder shot down the Rockies twice. Ankiel hit a solo homer in the eighth that proved to be the difference in a 6-5 game. He also threw out Willy Tavares attempting to tag up and move to third. Then added another incredible throw to nail Omar Quintanilla trying to stretch a double into a triple.

His support helped Branden Looper to the best start of his career. He went 8.1 innings giving up four runs, an effort that earned him his fifth win of the season. He also had two hits at the plate, including a double, a run and an RBI. Ryan Ludwick had a huge game going 4-4, and walking his other plate appearance.

Chris Iannetta hit his third homer of the year for the Rockies, one of two hits. He also drove in three of the Rockies runs and scored two. Clint Barmes had three hits from the eight spot in the lineup, two going for doubles.

Mark Redman was roughed up by the Cardinals, lasting just 2.2 innings.  He allowed nine hits and five runs in the short outing.

The Cardinals now stand at 22-12, one of the best records in MLB. Jeff Francis, winless on the year, will try to cool off the Cards while trying to pick up a win at last.

The Rockies lost a hard fought game 6-5 to the Cardinals Monday night. The game was back and forth the whole way, the teams going run for run until Albert Pujols scored on a groundout in the ninth and the Rockies could not match it in the bottom of the inning.

Ubaldo Jimenez had a good start, giving up just three earned in five innings. He fared better than Joel Pinero who lasted just three innings, allowing three earned on eight hits. Brian Fuentes took the loss for the Rockies, dropping him to 0-2.

Brad Hawpe hit his third homer of the year and Chris Iannetta  had three hits including a double in the game. Yadier Molina had three hits for the Cards who won their second straight game. Adam Kennedy also had two hits, including a huge triple.

The Rockies stole three bases of Molina when Randy Flores was on the hill. Willy Tavares had his 14th steal of the year taking third off the duo.

Aaron Cook won his fifth game of the season beating the Dodgers 7-2 Sunday. He threw 7.2 innings, allowing 9 hits to the Dodgers offense that had been on a tear lately. He did not walk a batter in the game and had a hit of his own.

The top of the order was huge for the Rockies. Scott Podsednik went 2-3 and scored two runs. Podsednik also had two stolen bases in the game. Omar Quintanilla had two runs and one hit. Matt Holliday had two hits and two RBI’s.

Blake DeWitt and Juan Pierre each had two hits in the game for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier hit his third homer of the year, a solo shot off Cook in the fifth. Rafael Furcal, one of the leagues leading hitters, was held hitless in the game. His average stands at .369 still.

Derek Lowe allowed just six hits in five innings but five earned runs as well. He walked four while punching out three. The Dodgers eight game winning streak came to an end, but their record keeps them second in the NL West behind the scorching hot Diamondbacks.

Jeff Francis dropped to 0-3 on the season after a loss to the Dodgers 11-6 last night. He went 5.1 innings before leaving the game. He allowed six hits and four runs in the ballgame. The Rockies jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the Dodgers exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth.

Brad Penny was sharp on the other side for the Dodgers. He improved to 5-2 by going five strong innings allowing a mere three hits and just three runs. He did walk four however and only struck out one. Cory Wade gave up three in relief of Penny, all unearned however.

Rafael Furcal hit his fourth homer of the year, one of his three hits. He also drove in four runs and scored two. His three run homer in the sixth was the big blow with two outs. Matt Kemp also drove in four, having two hits in the game. Russell Martin and Jeff Kent also contributed two hits.

The Rockies had six hits, scattered through the line up with no player having more than one. Todd Helton hit his third homer of the year, a solo shot in the sixth. Scott Podsednik had a pinch hit two run triple in the seventh.