DETROIT — Call it a catharsis. It was as if the Rockies purged themselves of a season’s worth of angst in one at-bat. They scored eight runs in the 10th inning to beat the Tigers 12-4 on Friday night at Comerica Park. The eight runs were the most the Rockies have ever scored in a single extra inning.
“It was a huge win for us,” starter Jeff Francis said. “We had lost a few games in a row and for us to come in here and keep it tight and then bust out like we did in the 10th inning, it was huge for us as a team.”
Turning point. In the 10th, with the bases loaded, one out and the Tigers’ infield drawn in, Detroit closer Jose Valverde faced Rockies rookie catcher Wilin Rosario. He chopped a two-run single inches over the glove of shortstop Jhonny Peralta, scoring Eric Young Jr. and Todd Helton. With that, the flood gates opened. The tidal wave included a three-run homer from Carlos Gonzalez. It was his 17th this season.
On the mound. Francis wasn’t great, but at least he gave his club a chance. The lefty, making his second start since rejoining the club, pitched 5 1/3 workmanlike innings, giving up four runs on eight hits and walking three. He extricated himself out of a major jam in fourth, striking out Brennan Boesch looking with two on.
“He gave us an extremely competitive effort, and he put us in a position to wisely use our bullpen,” manager Jim Tracy said.
Matt Belisle continued to show why he’s the MVP of Colorado’s bullpen. He allowed one hit and shut out the Tigers in the eighth and ninth.
At the plate. The Rockies put together 16 hits, their most on the road this season. Chris Nelson, starting at second, had a big night, lining a 352-foot, two-run homer in the fourth to put the Rockies in front 4-3. His third homer of the season just inched over the right-field wall. He also hit a triple, scored three runs and drove in three runs.
Designated hitter Jason Giambi was a one-man rally killer. The 41-year-old slugger grounded into three double plays, in the second, third and fifth.
The third-inning version hurt the killer. Fueled by Chris Nelson’s RBI triple and an RBI double by Dexter Fowler, the Rockies scored twice. But it should have been so much more. With one out and the bases loaded, Giambi grounded out to first baseman Prince Fielder, who turned a slick three-two-three double play.
What it means. The victory snapped Colorado’s eight-game losing streak, gave them their first interleague victory after nine losses, and put the nightmare of an 0-6 homestand in the rearview mirror.
SATURDAY
Rockies at Tigers, 2:05 p.m., ROOT, 850 AM
Christian Friedrich’s home-road splits are shocking, no doubt about it. The rookie left-hander is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA on the road, but he’s 1-2 with a 12.60 ERA at Coors Field. In his last start at Coors, the Angels rocked him for nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits (including three homers) in a mere four innings. But Friedrich refuses to blame the venue. “My last start, I can name every pitch I made a mistake on,” he said. “It had nothing to do with the altitude or the ballpark.” I threw two of the worst changeups that I threw all year. They were hit over the fence and should have been hit over the fence. And I couldn’t find my curveball early, and then I started taking something off it and they hit that.”When Friedrich has shined on the road, he has pounded the strike zone with his fastball, setting up a deadly curve. That combination was not in evidence in his start against the Angels. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Today: Rockies’ Christian Friedrich (4-2, 5.85 ERA) at Tigers’ Doug Fister (0-3, 3.15), 2:05 p.m., ROOT
Sunday: Rockies’ Jeremy Guthrie (3-5, 6.91) at Tigers’ Max Scherzer (5-4, 5.76), 11:05 a.m., ROOT
Monday: Off
Tuesday: Rockies’ Josh Outman (0-2, 8.44) at Phillies’ Cole Hamels (9-3, 3.34), 5:05 p.m., ROOT
