The Colorado Rockies can only dream of playing the Houston Astros for the rest of the season. They defeated the 'Stros on Monday night, 9-5. The game was already out of reach at the end of the first inning, the Rockies holding a 6-0 lead.
Astros starting pitcher Brett Myers (3-13, 4.95 ERA) took his first career loss against the Rockies after allowing seven runs over the first two innings. He kept them off the board through five innings before one-time Rockies prospect Aneury Rodriguez entered the game in relief. Rodriguez has two runs in his boxscore line, but David Carpenter was on the mound when those two runs crossed the plate.
The Rockies offense clicked in the first inning when Eric Young Jr. started things with a walk. Dexter Fowler doubled to place men on second and third. Carlos Gonzalez followed with a two-run double. Todd Helton singled in Carlos Gonzalez and moved to third on Ty Wigginton's double. An infield single by Mark Ellis pushed Helton across the plate. Then starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin doubled in Wigginton and Chris Iannetta, who reached on a fielder's choice, for the fifth and sixth runs.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a solo home run (22) in the second inning, but the final two runs of the game didn't come until Chris Nelson's pinch-hit two-run single in the eighth inning.
Chacin (10-10, 3.49 ERA) allowed a solo home run to Brian Bogusevic in the fourth inning for the only run he surrendered in the game. Chacin didn't have his best stuff, but he didn't belabor the outing like his last one. He really did scatter 11 hits, though.
J.C. Romero allowed a three-run home run in the ninth and needed Josh Roenicke to bail him out. Roenicke, though, finally allowed a run, though that was when Rafael Betancourt allowed a sac fly in relief of him.
The Rockies (61-68, 33-33 home) continue this series on Tuesday with Alex White making his Rockies debut. Bud Norris will oppose him at 6:40 p.m. MT.
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