Jeff Francis allowed one run and seven hits in more than six innings and Brad Hawpe’s single to right field in the bottom of the third inning drove in two runs and the Rockies downed the Diamondbacks 5-1 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series in Phoenix.
Francis allowed seven hits in more than six innings and he kept Arizona scoreless after the first.
An ugly scene developed in the bottom of the seventh inning after Justin Upton was called for interence at second base. Upton was forced out by Matsui but threw his elbow at the Rockies second baseman on a wild slilde. The umpire then called out Augie Ojeda at first base because of the interfernce.
Fans, upset at the call, showered the field with trash and debris. And Colorado manager Clint Hurdle pulled his team from the field for a 10-minute delay.
Eric Byrnes put the Diamondbacks ahead 1-0 the the first inning after he doubled to left field. Arizona starter Brandon Webb did not allow a hit until the second inning, but he got in trouble in the third inning when the Rockies put up three runs.
Webb was relieved to start the seventh inning.
The Rockies are playing their first championship series since entering the major-leagues.
Colorado ace Jeff Francis, a 17-game winner during the regular season, started against Arizona’s Webb, the defending National League Cy Young Award-winner.
The Rockies late Wednesday announced they added centerfielder Willy Taveras to their NLCS roster. Taveras, a .320 hitter this season, missed the Rockies three-game division series victory over the Phillies and has been out since mid-September after aggravating a right quadriceps injury.
Taveras’ re-entry into the Rockies roster pushed pitcher Mark Redman out.
The game is airing on TBS. Area radio broadcasts can be found on 850-KOA and 950-KKFN.
Check denverpost.com/sports for a running report throughout the game, with live scoring and a real-time chat box.
COLORADO 5, ARIZONA 1
NINTH INNING:
Rockies
Sullivan struck out looking
Taveras struck out looking
Matsui struck out swinging
Diamondbacks:
Salazar flied out to right field
Ojeda grounded out to second
Montero singled to left field, then was thrown out at second base
EIGHTH INNING:
Rockies
Atkins flied out to right
Hawpe struck out looking
Tulowitzki infield single to third
Torrealba struck out swinging
Diamondbacks:
Byrnes struck out looking
Jackson singled to center field
Reynolds flied out to center field
Snyder struck out looking
SEVENTH INNING:
Rockies
Torrealba walked
Torrealba to second on wild pitch
Francis bunt out to third, Torrealba moved to third base
Taveras struck out swinging
Matsui on by error, Torrealba scored
Matsui stole second base
Holliday walked, Matsui to third on passed ball
Helton flied out to third base
Diamondbacks:
Snyder doubled to left field
Upton hit by pitch
Ojeda grounded into fielder’s choice double play, with Upton out at second and Ojeda out by interference.
Cirillo on by bunt single, Snyder to third
Young walked, Cirillo to second
Drew flied out to right
SIXTH INNING:
Rockies
Atkins flied out to right
Hawpe singled to center
Tulowitzki struck out swinging
Hawpe picked off at first base
Diamondbacks:
Byrnes infield single to shortstop
Jackson grounded into double play to shortstop
Reynolds grounded out to shortstop
FIFTH INNING:
Rockies
Matsui flied out to shortstop
Holliday grounded out to first
Helton grounded tou to first
Diamondbacks:
Upton struck out swinging
Ojeda grounded out to shortstop
Webb singled to right
Young walked, Webb to second
Drew struck out swinging
FOURTH INNING:
Rockies
Torrealba grounded out to third
Francis grounded out to second
Taveras grounded out to second
Diamondbacks:
Jackson grounded out to second
Reynolds hit by pitch
Snyder grounded into double play to third
THIRD INNING:
Rockies:
Francis grounded out to short
Taveras singled to left
Taveras stole second
Matsui singled to left, Taveras scored
Holliday infield single, Matsui to second
Helton flied out to center
Webb wild pitch, Matsui to third and Holliday to second
Hawpe singled to right, Matsui and Holliday scored
Tulowitzki grounded out to third
Diamondbacks:
Young lined out to left
Drew grounded out to first
Byrnes flied out to right
SECOND INNING:
Rockies:
Helton singled to left field
Atkins singled to left field
Hawpe walked, bases loaded
Tulowitzki grounded to short for a double play, Helton scored
Torrealba struck out swinging
Diamondbacks:
Snyder struck out swinging
Upton grounded to second
Ojeda singled to right
Webb struck out looking
FIRST INNING:
Rockies:
Taveras grounded out to third
Matsui struck out looking
Holliday struck out swinging
Diamondbacks:
Young flied out to left
Drew singled to right field
Byrnes doubled to left, Drew scored
Jackson flied out to first
Reynolds flied out to shortstop
