Anderson hit hard as Rockies rout D-backs, 15-3

MICHAEL KELLY
Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Chase Anderson knew he was taking the mound for the last time this season so he didn’t hold back, hitting 96 on the radar gun a few times.

Unfortunately for him, the Colorado Rockies were right on his pitches.

Anderson cruised through the first three innings before getting tagged for six runs in his final two as the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-3 on Friday night.

“The first three innings were pretty quick for me, kept attacking the zone,” Anderson said. “Probably should have expanded the zone a little more.”

Anderson (9-7), trying to become the fifth Diamondbacks rookie with at least 10 wins in a season, allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings.

It didn’t diminish his season, which started in Double-A Mobile before a call-up in early May. He pitched 153 1-3 total innings this season, 114 1-3 with the Diamondbacks.

“Good year for him,” manager Kirk Gibson said. “A really good year for him looking forward.”

The loss dropped the Diamondbacks alone into last place for the first time since July 13. They have lost four straight and 11 of 14.

“This is a great group of guys. We haven’t had the season we wanted to but we’ve stuck together,” Anderson said. “We all have great attitudes. I finished the year strong. I’m just thankful to be in this position.”

Michael Cuddyer hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs and Jordan Lyles pitched six strong innings for his first win in six weeks for Colorado.

Rafael Ynoa added four hits and three RBIs and Wilin Rosario had three hits and two RBIs for the Rockies, who moved a game up on last-place Arizona in the NL West. It’s the first time Colorado hasn’t been in last place, either alone or shared, since July 13.

Lyles (7-3) gave up two runs and nine hits with one strikeout, consistently getting ground-ball outs en route to his first win in eight starts since Aug. 6.

The Rockies were leading 7-2 in the sixth when reliever Eury De La Rosa hit Justin Morneau with pitch to load the bases with one out. Cuddyer worked the count to 2-2 before driving De La Rosa’s pitch deep into the left-field bleachers for his eighth career slam and first since May 30, 2012, against Houston. It was the fourth slam by a Rockies player this season and marked the 20th consecutive game in which Colorado has homered.

“He’s very smart and beyond he’s got a good swing,” Gibson said. “He was fooled on two pitches before he hit the grand slam. He’s been around a long time and he’s a solid ballplayer.”

Cuddyer came up with the bases loaded again in the eighth and lined a three-run double to the gap in left-center. He’s the first Rockies player with seven RBIs in a game since Jason Giambi on May 19, 2011, against Philadelphia.

Both Cuddyer and Rosario homered the night before in Colorado’s 7-6 win over Arizona with Rosario delivering a two-run game-ender in the ninth.

Ynoa just missed an inside-the-park homer, settling for a two-run triple in the fifth when he was tagged out at home by Miguel Montero on a beautiful inning ending relay from second baseman Chris Owings.

BULLPEN TROUBLE

Arizona’s bullpen couldn’t keep the game close. De La Rosa allowed five runs — all earned — in his one inning and Joe Paterson gave up four runs in an inning of relief. In the first two games of this four-game series the Diamondbacks relievers have allowed 13 runs in 6 2-3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Bronson Arroyo, who was injured in mid-June and later underwent reconstructive elbow surgery, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: RHP Trevor Cahill (3-11) is slated to pitch Saturday night’s Game 3 of a four game set against the Rockies. He’s given up three or fewer runs in eight of his past 11 starts.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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