Tonight, the Blake Street Bombers, circa 2007, erased Friday night’s Blake Street blunder.
Brad Hawpe hit a two-run homer in the fourth, Garrett Atkins smashed a three-run shot in the sixth and Todd Helton launched a solo homer in the seventh, leading the Rockies to a 6-4 win over the Royals.
The Rockies were coasting to victory until Ryan Shealy, the former Rockie, hit a three-run homer in the ninth off Ramon Ramirez. Closer Brian Fuentes came in to get the final out and record his 11th save.
Hawpe and Atkins hit their homers against Kansas City ace Gil Meche, who entered the game with a 0.00 ERA in four previous road starts. Hawpe’s homer snapped Meche’s streak of 30 scoreless innings on the road.
It was only the second time Colorado hit three homers in the same game. The other time was on May 12 vs. San Francisco.
Meche was outpitched by Taylor Buchholz. The right-hander entered the game with a 1-2 record and an ugly 7.52 ERA. But Buchholz was superb Saturday night, allowing one unearned run in seven innings. He scattered seven hits, struck out four and walked two.
The Royals scored their only run in the first inning, taking advantage of sloppy outfield play by Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras. Mark Grudzielanek walked and came around to score when Mark Teahen’s single slipped under Taveras’ glove.
Colorado’s victory came 24 hours after one of the most frustrating losses of a frustrating season.
In Friday’s 5-2 loss to K.C., manager Clint Hurdle pulled starter Jeff Francis with one out in the eighth and the Rockies holding a 2-0 lead. Francis had thrown only 74 pitches and looked strong, but Hurdle brought in setup man Manny Corpas anyway. The Royals promptly shelled Corpas, who gave up four runs on five hits before leaving the mound to a cascade of boos. Afterward, Hurdle, booed even more vociferously than Corpas, took full blame for the defeat.
