Sports Network | June 19, 2010
Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Jason Hammel pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings to extend his shutout streak, and the Colorado Rockies plated a couple runs early to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-0, and start the lone intraleague series of the weekend.
Hammel (5-3), who has allowed one run in four June starts, has not allowed a run in 25 1/3 frames for the Rockies, who have won five of seven. The righty gave up eight hits and two walks while fanning four to earn the win, his third in as many outings. He also doubled and executed a perfect suicide squeeze to knock in a run.
Brad Hawpe doubled twice and drove in the other run for Colorado, and Manuel Corpas recorded his ninth save of the season. The shutout marked the ninth of the season for the Rockies, a club record for a single year.
Manny Parra (1-5) was the hard-luck loser after yielding two runs on six hits while fanning five without issuing a walk in six innings. Ryan Braun was the only Milwaukee player with multiple base hits, as the Brewers lost for the fourth time in six games.
Milwaukee had plenty of chances to score, but left 10 men on base, including eight in scoring position.
The Brewers looked to end Hammel’s scoreless streak in the first, loading the bases with one out on two singles and a walk. However, Hammel induced a foul out from Casey McGehee and a fly out from Jonathan LuCroy to end the threat.
Colorado then took the lead for good in the home half on Hawpe’s RBI double, which scored Ryan Spilborghs, who had reached on a two-out infield single.
Hammel extended the Rockies’ lead with a perfectly executed suicide squeeze in the second to plate Ian Stewart. Stewart had led off the frame with a single and moved to third on a one-out single from Jonathan Herrera.
The Brewers put two runners on in the fourth with two outs for Parra, who lined out. McGehee reached second with one down in the sixth, but Hammel retired the next two hitters to keep Milwaukee off the board.
In the eighth, Braun reached on a one-out infield single, prompting the Rockies to bring in Joe Beimel. Prince Fielder greeted him with a double to send Braun to third, and Colorado turned to Rafael Betancourt to get out of the jam. McGehee fouled out to first for the second out, and LuCroy struck out swinging to squander another opportunity for the visitors.
Corpas pitched around a two-out single in the ninth to lock down the victory.
Brewers manager Ken Macha was ejected in the fourth inning for arguing a tag play at first base…The season series is tied, 2-2…The Rockies are 12-9 against left-handed pitchers this season and have won four straight…The Brewers are 4-19 when they don’t hit a home run.