Though it wasn't easy, the Colorado Rockies defeated the Texas Rangers, 11-10. It was a tale of two games for the Rockies as they were down 9-2 at one point, but by the sixth inning it was time for the Rangers to experience some bad pitching.
Jason Hammel started for the Rockies and had plenty of issues in the second inning. He was roughed up early with back-to-back doubles and single, but it was the next at-bat that turned the inning into a disaster. Jason Hammel fielded a ball hit by Ian Kinsler but wound up throwing past the Ty Wigginton. That allowed two runs to score and Kinsler to make it all the way to third. A few batters later, Adrian Beltre hit a three-run home run.
Entering the top of the sixth inning, the Rockies were down, 9-2. Jason Giambi started the inning with a no-doubt home run. Eric Young Jr eventually plated a run on a single and Willy Taveras, who entered the game after Dexter Fowler suffered tightness in the leg, knocked in two on a single. In the seventh, Mike Jacobs blasted a two-run homer to make it a 9-8 game in favor of the Rangers.
But the Rockies saved the best part of the comeback for the top of the ninth: taking the lead. Cole Garner hit a two-run homer to tie the game, and with two outs Willy Taveras drove in the go-ahead run.
Craig Baker came in to finish the game, but he was sketchy in the appearance. After striking out the first batter, he walked the next two before getting the game-ending double play.
Jason Hammel went three innings with eight runs allowed, but only three earned because of his throwing gaffe. But really he's on the hook for all of them. There were also base-running issues with runners getting stuck in rundowns on the base paths and two caught stealings.
Ian Stewart went 1-for-2 with a walk in his return to action with the Rockies.
Greg Reynolds starts for the Rockies tomorrow against the Chicago White Sox.