On a postcard-perfect summer night at Coors Field, the Rockies staged perhaps the most complete performance of their roller-coaster season.
Snapshots from their 10-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday included:
• Six innings of quality pitching by rookie starter Greg Reynolds. He kept his fastball down and tossed in some timely curves to keep the Indians guessing. Most important of all, he learned from past mistakes, made adjustments and secured his spot in the rotation.
“I just knew that I had to start pitching well and that I was underachieving,” said Reynolds, who improved to 2-4. “It was just good to get back on track and good to feel more comfortable out there. There was no real pressure about being sent down to Triple-A, it was just a matter of pitching better.”
• An inside-the-park homer from Jeff Baker in the third inning that put Colorado in front 2-0.
“It was pretty cool, but that’s not the way you draw it up,” Baker said. “Usually you hit a homer and you get to jog around the bases. I was pretty winded the next inning.”
• A two-run blast from Brad Hawpe in the fourth, extending the Rockies’ lead to 4-0.
• A 17-hit onslaught, the most hits by the Rockies this season.
• A sizzling double play by shortstop Omar Quintanilla that got Reynolds out of a messy jam in the sixth. With bases loaded and one out, Quintanilla made a diving catch of Shin-Soo Choo’s line drive, doubling former Rockie Jamey Carroll off second to complete a double play.
“That play was huge, the biggest moment of the game,” Reynolds said.
The Rockies are still 13 games under .500 (29-42) and in last place in the National League West, but strange as it might seem, they are gaining ground. With slumping Arizona getting throttled 15-1 by Oakland, the Rockies moved just eight games out of first, the closest they have been since May 12. And they are beginning to play good baseball on a more consistent basis.
“It was a good effort tonight to put all facets together tonight,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We got two-out hits, some two-strike hits and we made a lot of good plays defensively. We played heads up tonight.”
Reynolds, blown off the mound in his last start, showed the fastball command the Rockies were hoping for. He gave up one run on five hits, struck out four and walked none. He also went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
“I’ve been watching Aaron Cook highlights,” Reynolds joked, referring to the Rockies’ ace who’s hitting .267 and is being utilized as a pinch hitter.
Baker’s inside job was as crazy as it was exciting. He drove a pitch from Cleveland starter Paul Byrd off the left-center wall and watched as the ball caromed out of the reach of center fielder Grady Sizemore. Baker shifted into high gear as he rounded second base, got the full-speed-ahead sign from third-base coach Mike Gallego and slid into home, easily beating the throw.
“About halfway between second and third, I saw ‘Gags’ and his arm was moving quicker than normal, to say the least,” Baker said.
It was the first inside-the-park homer of Baker’s career and the 10th in Rockies history. Garrett Atkins hit the last one, Sept. 23 last season in San Diego.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
TODAY: Indians at Rockies, 7:05 p.m., FSN
For the second time in three games, the Rockies face a hotshot rookie pitcher. Monday night, Atlanta’s Jair Jurrjens baffled them for 7 2/3 innings. Tonight they face Cleveland left-hander Aaron Laffey (4-3, 2.83), the AL rookie of the month for May. Rockies lefty Jeff Francis (2-6, 5.49), still trying to find his groove, will make his 15th start. He pitched effectively for most of his six-plus innings Friday against the White Sox but faltered late in Colorado’s 5-4 loss. Francis seems to be over the first-inning blues that have plagued him most of the season. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Thursday:
Indians’ Jeremy Sowers (0-1, 7.23) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (1-3, 6.89), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Mets’ John Maine (6-5, 3.87) vs. Rockies’ Aaron Cook (10-3, 3.29), 7:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Mets’ Pedro Martinez (2-0, 5.31) vs. Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (1-7, 4.85), 6:05 p.m., FSN
Sunday:
Mets’ Mike Pelfrey (3-6, 4.62) vs. Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (2-4, 5.98), 1:05 p.m., KTVD-20
