ARLINGTON, TEXAS — On a scorching hot day under a blazing Texas sun, the Rockies reached down deep for their gutsiest victory this season.
Colorado rallied for five runs in the eighth inning Thursday afternoon, overcoming another bullpen meltdown to beat the Rangers 12-9 in 102-degree heat.
Carlos Gonzalez’s bases-loaded, pinch-hit, three-run double off Texas reliever Matt Bush was the big hit. His left ankle sore and swollen, Gonzalez came off the bench to crush a line drive into the left-center gap. Colorado’s other runs in the eighth came via an RBI single by Tony Wolters and a bases-loaded walk drawn by rookie outfielder David Dahl.
“I was trying to stay loose and stay in the game,” said Gonzalez, who extended his hitting streak to 18 games. “This was the perfect scenario for me. I work hard for moments like that … and I’m glad I got the job done today, especially after all of the tough losses we have had.”
Teammates razzed Gonzalez because he delivered despite not having seen a live pitch in five days.
“Bush threw me a 97 (mph) first pitch, so I said, ‘OK, wake-up call right now,’ ” Gonzalez said with a big grin. “He threw me 97 outside on the first pitch, and he went back to it, but this one was in the strike zone and I was prepared for it.”
Closer Adam Ottavino brought some sanity to recent events by striking out the side in the ninth to record his first save this season.
“I tried to attack hard, because I knew everybody was tired. I wasn’t, I still had energy left,” said Ottavino, who blew a save Wednesday night in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory. “Normally, this would have been just another game, but we needed this one. I wanted to hug everybody today. We could have given in, like five times today, but we kept coming back.”
The drama unfolded after Colorado’s 7-5 lead evaporated in the Rangers’ four-run seventh. Adrian Beltre hit a first-pitch home run down the right-field line off left-handed reliever Chris Rusin. Mitch Moreland was next and tied the game with a shot to center.
Right-hander Scott Oberg tried to extinguish the fire. He couldn’t, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks (one intentional) in his one inning. Elvis Andrus’ run-scoring double and an RBI groundout by Desmond produced the runs off Oberg.
It was the fifth time in the last seven games Rockies relievers blew a lead in the seventh inning or later. This time, Colorado rallied to snap a four-game losing streak.
It did so with a 15-hit attack.
Dahl tied a 75-year-old major-league record by singling in the first inning, extending his hit streak to 17 games to begin a career. He is tied with Chuck Aleno, who began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1941. Dahl’s streak also surpassed the Rockies record set by outfielder Juan Pierre, who began his career in 2000 by hitting in 16 consecutive games Aug. 8-23.
“It’s pretty cool,” Dahl said. “But I really haven’t thought much about it, besides looking on Twitter.”
Reynolds report. Mark Reynolds probably is headed to the 15-day disabled list because of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand. He left Thursday’s game after swinging at a pitch in the seventh inning. Initial X-rays were inconclusive, and Reynolds is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday.
“Itap been hurting me for a couple of weeks,” Reynolds said. “I’ve been doing the best I could with it hurting. I tried to tape it and not feel it. But it would hurt when I would swing and miss.”
Itap unclear what the Rockies would do to replace the first baseman, a right-handed hitter who’s batting .283 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. He has fielded his position well, regularly making scoops to cap highlight reel plays made by Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado.
