Jason Giambi drove in two runs on two doubles in the Colorado Rockies' 10-9 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon. The two teams combined for nine doubles and one home run in the high-scoring affair.
Giambi's RBI double in the first inning was the start of three consecutive RBI hits by the Rockies, as Seth Smith and Jose Lopez each followed with single. Carlos Gonzalez drove in a run in the second inning to make it a 4-2 Rockies lead, but it was the fifth and sixth frames that saw the Rockies do most of their damage. Giambi's second RBI double and a Charlie Blackmon RBI single in the fifth added two more runs. In the sixth, Jordan Pacheco added a two-run double and Mike Jacobs drove in Pacheco on a single. Willy Taveras drove in a run in the eighth.
The Royals got to Esmil Rogers early on when they scored two runs in the bottom of the first. Rogers had a balk to advance the leadoff batter to second, having reached on a single. Hector Gomez missed the catch on a Jeff Francoeur steal of second, which allowed Melky Cabrera to score. Francoeur would later drive in two on a double in the third inning while Rogers was still in the game. Rogers went three innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk. In addition to the balk, he hit two batters as well.
Claudio Vargas allowed an additional three runs in the sixth inning, while Greg Smith and Bruce Billings each allowed a run. Billings allowed a home run to Kila Ka'aihue in the bottom of the ninth to make it a one-run game, but he finished things for the save. Rafael Betancourt and Franklin Morales combined for two scoreless innings and a strikeout (by the latter).
The Rockies snapped a three-game losing streak and head back to Salt River Fields for a Sunday game against the Cleveland Indians. Jason Hammel faces the Indians' Justin Masterson. 850 KOA will cover the game. First pitch is 1:10 p.m. MT.