CINCINNATI — July has become Rocktober.
Getting the same combustible mixture of solid pitching and powerful hitting that propelled them into the World Series last autumn, the Rockies won for the ninth time in 10 games this afternoon, pummeling the Reds 11-0 to complete a three-game sweep at Great American Ballpark.
It was the Rockies” first road sweep since taking three straight from the Dodgers in Los Angeles in late September of last year, part of the 21-for-22 streak that launched the Rockies into the Fall Classic.
The Rockies” miserable start means they’re still 10 games under .500 (48-58) and chasing the Diamondbacks and Dodgers in the National League West. However, they have climbed to 10 games below .500 for the first time since May 25.
Starter Ubaldo Jimenez wasn’t as dominant today as he was last Tuesday when he threw a complete-game, four-hit gem in the Rockies” 10-1 victory over the Dodgers. But that’s knit-picking. Jimenez pitched a solid six scoreless innings today, giving up five hits.
Jimenez improved to 7-9, lowering his ERA to 3.80. His July numbers are sensational: 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA.
Reds starter Josh Fogg, who earned the moniker “Dragon Slayer” last year as a member of the Rockies for his knack for beating opposing aces, was no match for the Rockies” bats. A pair of two-run homers in the fourth by Jeff Baker (his ninth) and Garrett Atkins (15th) sent Fogg packing. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, the Rockies scalding him for seven runs on eight hits.
In the fifth, Chris Iannetta unloaded a 422-foot solo homer to the second deck beyond left field. His 11th homer came off Reds reliever Todd Coffey.
Colorado, so ineffective driving in runs for much of the season, has become a scoring machine in July. The Rockies” 146 runs scored this month are the most in the majors. Since the all-star break, the Rockies have outscored their opponents 76-32 and are averaging 7.6 runs per game.
Baker, firmly entrenched as the starting second baseman, went 3-for-6, boosting his average to .302.
The Rockies” crucial 10-game road trip resumes Monday night in Pittsburgh. The Rockies swept four games from the Pirates at Coors Field from July 17-20 to begin their current hot streak.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
