Baltimore – In the ninth inning Sunday, Ryan Spilborghs ran into the right-field wall trying to catch a foul ball. That was the only thing that slowed him down in the Rockies’ series finale victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Spilborghs blasted two home runs and finished with six RBIs as the Rockies won 6-1 at Camden Yards on Cal Ripken Bobblehead day.
Even then, he may not have been the Rockies’ most valuable player on this day. Jason Hirsh, in his best game in a Colorado uniform, notched his first major league complete game, allowing one run on five hits on 115 pitches.
It was Hirsh’s first win since April 22, a streak spanning eight starts. His rotation spot on quicksand a week ago, the right-hander demonstrated terrific fastball command and kept the Orioles off balance with his changeup.
With left-hander Erik Bedard on the mound, Spilborghs got a rare start in place of regular Brad Hawpe. His first home run traveled 420 feet, the second 418 feet. Both crashed into the Orioles’ bullpen. Spilborghs, who made Steve Finley expendable, had not homered entering the game.
The Rockies are off Monday, before beginning a three-game series at Boston where they will face Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling.
