CINCINNATI — July has become Rocktober.
But even when the Rockies went on their mind-boggling streak last autumn, winning 21-of-22 games to reach the World Series, they didn’t crush the ball the way they are now.
“We have a lot of good hitters on this team. From top to bottom anybody can hurt you,” Troy Tulowitzki said Sunday after the Rockies pummeled the Reds 11-0 for their ninth win in 10 games, remaining six games behind National League West Division leader Arizona. “We are kind of beating up teams right now.”
Tulo got that right.
In sweeping three games from the Reds, the Rockies stroked 45 hits, the most allowed by the Reds in a three-game series since Oakland pounded them for 51 in 2004.
It also helped that the Rockies got superb pitching, allowing the Reds three runs in three games. Sunday, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched six scoreless innings, giving up five hits. The relief trio of Ryan Speier, Luis Vizcaino and Kip Wells nailed down the shutout.
With a 16-7 record in July, the Rockies have climbed to 10 games below .500 for the first time since May 25.
The Rockies, so ineffective at driving in runs the first half of the season, have transformed into a scoring machine in July. Their 146 runs 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.
“Last year, we just won games,” said manager Clint Hurdle, referring to the late-season hot streak. “I don’t think we put up big numbers, we just found a way to score one more run than the other team. We’re finding ways to barrel up bats this time. We’ve had a lot of good at-bats.”
There are a few reasons the offense is suddenly sizzling.
The infusion of Jeff Baker and Ian Stewart into the starting lineup since the all-star break is one.
Baker, firmly entrenched as the starting second baseman, went 3-for-6 on Sunday with a two-run homer in the fourth. He has 14 hits in his last 25 at-bats (.560), boosting his average to .302.
“It’s simple to me,” he said. “I just try to get a good pitch and hit it.”
Tulowitzki was a bit more philosophical about the Rockies’ resurgence.
“They say hitting is contagious and I guess it is,” he said, after 1-for-3 day that included a two-run single in the third. “Hopefully, this doesn’t end.”
Reds starter Josh Fogg, who earned the moniker “Dragon Slayer” last year as a member of the Rockies because of his knack for beating opposing aces, was no match for the Rockies’ bats Sunday. Baker’s homer in the fourth, followed by another two-run shot by Garrett Atkins, 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.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
