On a postcard-perfect night at Coors Field, the Rockies staged one of their most complete performances of the season. Included in their 10-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday:
• Six innings of quality pitching by rookie starter Greg Reynolds.
• An inside-the-park homer from Jeff Baker in the third 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.
The Rockies are 13 games under .500 at 29-42 and in last place in the NL West, but strange as it might seem, they are gaining ground. With a loss from slumping Arizona to Oakland, the Rockies would move eight games out of first, the closest they’ve been since May 12.
Reynolds, blown off the mound in his last start, showed the fastball command the Rockies were hoping for. He gave up just one run on five hits, struck out four and walked one. He also went 2-for-3 and scored a run.
In the sixth, shortstop Omar Quintanilla got Reynolds out of a messy jam. With the bases loaded and one out, Quintanilla made a diving catch of Shin-Soo Choo’s line drive, doubling Jamey Carroll off second to complete a double play.
Baker’s inside job was as crazy as it was exciting. He drove a pitch from 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, got the full-speed-ahead sign from third-base coach Mike Gallego and slid across the plate, easily beating the throw.
It was the first inside-the-park homer of Baker’s career and the 10th in Rockies history.
