CINCINNATI — He is a menacing mass of muscle and hustle. Chris Iannetta swears he played other positions growing up. But one look at his body — broad shoulders, squatty legs — and it appears he was born to be a catcher.
The Rockies believe he can be an all-star someday. For that to happen, he has to hit. On a breezy, humidity-free Friday night along the Ohio River, Iannetta provided a stunning reminder of his power. His eighth-inning home run into the second deck not only clinched a 5-3 victory over the Reds, but it steered the road trip back on track.
“It was loud,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “When he hits them, there’s no doubt. That was a huge one.”
The win pulled the Rockies into a tie with the Giants in the wild-card standings, after San Francisco lost 5-1 to the Phillies Friday night.
Like most of his teammates, Iannetta stepped into the batter’s box battling a slump. He had one hit this week, sinking his average to .225. Watch him in the batting cage, and it’s hard to fathom that statistic.
“It’s obvious, it’s been a struggle,” Iannetta said. “Since the first week of the season, I have been looking at it like this is going to be the time it turns around.”
Against David Weathers, he did something he hasn’t done enough of this season — punish a mistake. With the score tied at 3-all, Iannetta crushed a hanging slider to fans who never thought they would catch a souvenir. The estimated distance of his 12th home run was 435 feet. Throw in a wind gust and it might have reached Kentucky.
For good measure, center fielder Carlos Gonzalez swatted Weathers’ very next pitch into the right-field seats for his second home run as a Rockie. It marked the sixth time the Rockies have gone back-to-back this season, the seventh time the Reds have been victimized by a double dose of distance, and the 88th time one of their relievers has been booed off the mound.
The big swings helped camouflage some huge missteps early in the game. Reds right-hander Justin Lehr, making his first big-league appearance since 2006 and his first big-league start ever, walked six batters in five innings. Yet he slithered out of trouble, surrendering just three runs on a groundout, sacrifice fly and Tulowitzki double.
Staked to a 3-1 lead, Aaron Cook, if only briefly, lost his grip. He surrendered consecutive home runs to Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips in the sixth inning. That robbed him of his eighth consecutive win, which would have tied Jeff Francis for the franchise record. Franklin Morales posted the victory by retiring Votto in the seventh.
Cook still left to a mini standing ovation from his personal fan section. In a trip planned six months in advance, six busloads of relatives and friends made the trip from nearby Hamilton to see their favorite sons. Manager Jim Tracy and Cook received keys to the nearby city before the game.
“It is special,” said Tracy.
Made even more so by the Rockies’ win.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Rockies Recap
No slowing down for Tulo
Apparently Troy Tulowitzki has found the right antibiotic. He joins Todd Helton and Seth Smith as the only players not infected by a team-wide slump. Tulowitzki doubled home a run in the first inning, his 13th RBI since the all-star break. He also threw out Wladimir Balentien with a spinning throw from behind second base in the seventh.
Center of attention.
Carlos Gonzalez, making his first start of the road trip, made a diving catch in center field to rob Laynce Nix in the fourth inning.
Free Willy.
Former Rockie Willy Taveras did not start for the Reds because of a sore left wrist. He has struggled offensively with a .279 on-base percentage.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Looking Ahead
TODAY: Rockies at Reds, 5:10 p.m., FSN
Ubaldo Jimenez (7-9, 3.85 ERA) is haunted by the No. 3. No matter what he does, the right-hander admitted, he always seems to surrender three runs. Sometimes it’s sloppy pitch sequence. Other times it’s the wrong pitch. Manager Jim Tracy believes Jimenez can be one of the NL’s top starters. Now would be a good time to prove it. In Jimenez’s wins, he owns a 2.09 ERA, compared to 6.23 in losses. Homer Bailey (2-2, 6.87), once considered the Reds’ top prospect, is trying to show he belongs in the big leagues.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Sunday: Rockies’ Jason Marquis (12-7, 3.47) vs. Reds’ Bronson Arroyo (10-10, 5.17), 11:10 a.m., FSN
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Rockies’ Jason Hammel (5-6, 4.66) vs. Phillies’ Jamie Moyer (10-7, 5.32), 5:10 p.m., FSN
Wednesday: Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (9-7, 4.68) vs. Phillies’ J.A. Happ (7-2, 2.97), 5:10 p.m., FSN
Thursday: Rockies’ Aaron Cook (10-3, 3.88) vs. Phillies’ Cliff Lee (8-9, 3.02), 11:05 a.m., no TV
