Ubaldo Jimenez has yet to look like the pitcher the Colorado Rockies saw in 2010: a surefire arm on the mound every fifth day. Jimenez, who finished third in the 2010 NL Cy Young voting, struggled in his third start since coming off the disabled list on April 19.
Jimenez ran into trouble in the second inning, starting it with a leadoff walk to Ryan Doumit. After Pedro Alvarez reached on a single, Ronny Cedeno put down a bunt that turned into an RBI single. Jimenez couldn't make a throw anywhere. Jimenez followed that with a bunt pop out and a strikeout, Xavier Paul laced a triple to right center field, plating two runs. Paul then scored on a Garrett Jones double.
Jimenez pitched just four innings, gave up four runs on six hits and four walks and struck out six. Esmil Rogers allowed four runs in the fifth inning on a sac fly a couple of singles. But after that, Franklin Morales, Matt Lindstrom, Matt Reynolds and Felipe Paulino combined for two hits allowed and four strikeouts.
The Rockies scored all four of their runs off of starter Charlie Morton. Todd Helton and Ryan Spilborghs (pinch-hitting for Jimenez) had RBI singles in the third and fourth innings. In the sixth inning, Morton exited after allowing two base runners. Mike Crotta walked the next batter and then surrendered a two-run double to Dexter Fowler. Morton's final line was 5.1 innings, four runs allowed and five walks.
The Rockies (17-9, 7-6 home) have Monday off before they start a three-game series with the Diamondbacks in Arizona.