Colorado Rockies continue to lose ground
The Colorado Rockies suffered another major blow in their playoff hopes after losing 8-4 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Despite an early lead in the game, the Rockies could
not pull away, eventually letting Arizona back in the game. The Diamondbacks were then able to pull the game away from the Rockies in the eighth inning.
The Rockies have now lost three straight games and find themselves three games back in the National League West division, as well as 3.5 in the NL wild card race.
Leading 5-4 in the eighth inning the Diamondbacks were able to build on their lead, exploding for three more runs. Kelly Johnson fuelled the crucial inning with a two-run blast. Arizona
pitcher Rodrigo Lopez improved his record to 7-14. Lopez allowed five hits and four runs in just over five innings of work. After losing seven straight games over the summer, Lopez has now won his last two starts. Sam Demel was able to preserve the win for
Arizona after allowing only one hit in 1 2/3 innings for his second save of the season.
Ubaldo Jimenez was credited with the loss for the Rockies and dropped his record to 19-7. Jimenez lasted just over four innings, allowing five hits and five runs. It was his first loss
in his last four appearances.
The Rockies had the early edge after scoring four runs in the first inning to open up a 4-0 lead on the strength of consecutive homers from Melvin Mora and Todd Helton. Stephen Drew was
able to get one back in the home half of the first with a solo shot to cut the lead to 4-1. Arizona then cut the lead to 4-3 in the third inning after Adam LaRoche smacked a two-run shot for his 24th homerun of the season. Arizona was then able
to take the lead in the fourth inning after Jimenez got into trouble by walking two batters. Later that inning with runners on second and third, Chris Young then drove in both with a single to center field to open up a 5-4 lead.
"He didn't really seem to get his secondary stuff over as he normally did," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Jimenez. "You get behind in counts, it's tough for any major league
pitcher."
After losing the early advantage and eventually the game, Rockies manager Jim Tracey admitted that it was time to step up the play.
"We need to take a major step forward and do something tomorrow night," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "You certainly wouldn't feel too good about yourselves from a momentum standpoint
going home after being swept here. Tomorrow is a very big game for us."
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