Cincinnati – At least he didn’t shatter the light bulbs. That’s about all the Rockies prevented Josh Hamilton from doing on Sunday afternoon.
Hamilton, baseball’s best story, continued his Roy Hobbs impersonation, his two home runs muscling the Reds to a 9-3 victory in the series finale.
The Rockies were going for their first road sweep since brooming the Washington Nationals last June. That chance crumbled in a barrage of 12 Cincinnati hits. None were bigger than Hamilton’s two blasts.
The rookie, out of baseball for almost four years because of drug addiction, homered in the fifth off losing starter Josh Fogg and in the seventh off reliever Alberto Arias. That brought a curtain call from the crowd. Moments later Hamilton ran down Brad Hawpe’s line drive to center field, this after throwing Willy Taveras at third base with a laser.
Hamilton finished the series 7-for-11 with four RBIs. The Rockies not only lost the game, but may be without the hot-hitting Taveras for a few days. He left in the bottom of the fifth with tightness in his right groin.
Colorado begins a three-game series at St. Louis Monday night, the final leg of a nine-game road trip.
Staff Writer Troy Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
