Rockies manager Jim Tracy loves the Pete Rose-like hustle and desire of Clint Barmes. The fact that Barmes smacks a home run now and then is an added bonus.
There was plenty to love about Barmes this afternoon as the sizzling Rockies finished brooming the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning 5-4. It was the Rockies’ 16th victory in their last 17 games.
Barmes’ solo home run to left field off Pirates starter Paul Maholm in the fourth inning was the difference as the Rockies finished their homestand with an 8-1 record.
Starter Jorge De La Rosa’s 5-2/3 innings were, as always, an adventure. But the Rockies lefty pitched well enough to garner his third victory in his last four starts.
Colorado’s bullpen put the clamps on the Pirates over the final three innings, not allowing a baserunner. Closer Huston Street got three Pirates to fly out to left in the ninth, notching his 16th save in 17 opportunities.
De La Rosa gave up three runs in the first two innings, the big blow a two-run homer in the second by Freddy Sanchez. At that point, De La Rosa’s wheels were wobbling, but they never fell off. He shut out the Pirates in innings three through five. Pittsburgh cut the lead to 5-4 with a run in the sixth on Brandon Moss’ pinch-hit single to drive in Robinson Diaz. Hustle by left fielder Ryan Spilborghs limited the damage. Spilborghs chased down Andy LaRoche’s leadoff blooper down the line and threw out LaRoche, who was trying to stretch his single, at second.
The Pirates, shaky on their fundamentals throughout the series, lent the Rockies a helping hand in the second. Catcher Paul Phillips walked, moved to second on De La Rosa’s sacrifice bunt, and scored on Dexter Fowler’s single to left fielder Delwyn Young. Fowler kept running, ending up on second when Young mishandled the ball for an error.
Fowler raced home on Barmes’ seemingly harmless popup to Sanchez at second. But Sanchez, who was not wearing sunglasses, lost the ball in the sun. Barmes, running all the way, slid into second with a heads-up RBI-double. Barmes scored on a Spilborghs’ double that hugged the left-field line.
Colorado pushed another run across in the third on a Troy Tulowitzki single, a wild pitch and a run-scoring single to right by Garrett Atkins. Atkins started in place of Todd Helton at first base.
The Rockies begin a tough eight-game road trip in Anaheim against the Angels on Monday. From there they move on to Oakland and then on to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers, leaders in the National League West.
The Rockies hit the road with an eight-game road winning streak on the line. That’s the longest in the majors this season and is tied for the longest in club history.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
