SB Nation Denver - Rockies Drop Second Game To Diamondbacks, Lose Ground In Postseason Hunthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48907/denver-fave.png2010-09-22T23:10:58-06:00http://denver.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14689562010-09-22T23:10:58-06:002010-09-22T23:10:58-06:00Ubaldo Jimenez Falters As Rockies' Offense Fails To Show Up Against Diamondbacks Pitching
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<p>Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Stephen Drew and Adam LaRoche homered off Ubaldo Jimenez and Kelly Johnson added a two-run blast in the eighth inning as Arizona beat Colorado, 8-4, sending the playoff-hopeful Rockies to their third straight defeat.</p>
<p>The Diamondbacks won on the same day they agreed to terms with Kevin Towers on a two-year contract to become the club’s executive vice president and general manager.</p>
<p>The loss left the Rockies three games behind NL West-leading San Diego and three back of Atlanta, the wild card leader.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1705558/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-offense-loss-diamondbacksRuss Oates2010-09-22T21:13:35-06:002010-09-22T21:13:35-06:00Ubaldo Jimenez Fails To Keep Lead In Fourth Inning
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<p>Ubaldo Jimenez couldn’t come up when it counted most down the stretch, surrendering a 4-0 lead to a 4-5 deficit after four innings. He allowed two more runs in the fourth when he struggled with the strike zone.</p>
<p>Jay Payton pinch hit for him in the fifth inning.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1705395/ubaldo-jimenez-fails-to-keep-lead-rockies-diamondbacksRuss Oates2010-09-22T20:47:51-06:002010-09-22T20:47:51-06:00Adam LaRoche Hits Two-Run Homer To Bring Score To 4-3
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<p>In the bottom of the third inning, Ubaldo Jimenez served up a two-run homer to Adam LaRoche to bring the Diamondbacks within one of the Rockies. Jimenez escaped the inning without any further damage.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1705354/adam-laroche-hits-two-run-homer-off-ubaldo-jimenezRuss Oates2010-09-22T19:57:35-06:002010-09-22T19:57:35-06:00Melvin Mora, Todd Helton Homer In 1st Inning
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<p>After Troy Tulowitkzi fouled out for the second out of the first inning, Melvin Mora stepped to the plate with hopes of keeping the inning alive. He did more than that when he launched a three-run homer. Todd Helton then followed with a solo shot, his seventh of the season. The Rockies lead 4-0.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1705274/melvin-mora--todd-helton-homer-1st-inning-diamondbacksRuss Oates2010-09-22T16:48:53-06:002010-09-22T16:48:53-06:00Lineups Posted For Both Teams
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<p>Both teams have posted their starting lineups for tonight’s crucial NL West showdown.</p>
<p>2B Jonathan Herrera <br>
CF Dexter Fowler<br>
RF Carlos Gonzalez<br>
SS Troy Tulowitzki <br>
3B Melvin Mora <br>
1B Todd Helton<br>
LF Ryan Spilborghs<br>
C Miguel Olivo<br>
P Ubaldo Jimenez</p>
<p>Eric Young Jr. is still nursing a sore shin and is likely out for the remainder of the series. Dexter Fowler slides into the second spot in the order, behind Jonathan Herrera. It is Herrera’s first start in the leadoff role since June 28th against Milwaukee.</p>
<p>Ubaldo Jimenez is attempting to become the first Rockie pitcher to reach 20 wins in a season. He is also eight strikeouts from reaching 200 for the season and is facing a Diamondbacks team that last night set a baseball record for most strikeouts in a season.</p>
<p>Arizona counters with the following lineup:</p>
<p>SS Stephen Drew<br>
CF Chris Young<br>
2B Kelly Johnson<br>
1B Adam LaRoche<br>
3B Mark Reynolds<br>
C Miguel Montero<br>
LF Brandon Allen<br>
RF Gerardo Parra<br>
P Rodrigo Lopez</p>
<p>Rodrigo Lopez pitched well in his last start against the Rockies on September 11th, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing only two earned runs and striking out four Rockies in the loss.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1704955/lineups-rockies-arizona-wild-cardMuzia2010-09-22T16:32:55-06:002010-09-22T16:32:55-06:00Rockies Try To Keep Playoff Hopes Alive Against The Diamondbacks
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<p><i>For more check out <a href="http://www.purplerow.com" target="_blank">Purple Row</a> and <a href="http://www.azsnakepit.com/" target="_blank">AZ Snakepit</a>...</i></p>
<p>(<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/54476/preview/115928" target="_blank">Sports Network</a>) - <span>Ubaldo Jimenez</span> tries to join <span>CC Sabathia</span> and <span>Roy Halladay</span> as 20-game winners this evening when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> continue their improbable postseason push against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Arizona Diamondbacks</a> at Chase Field.</p>
<p>Jimenez won his second straight decision on Friday in Los Angeles, as he held the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> to four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 frames to improve to 19-6 to go along with a 2.84 earned run average.</p>
<p>Although, he is unbeaten in his last three starts, Jimenez is just 4-5 since the All-Star break and has pitched to a 3.93 ERA.</p>
<p>"Let's be honest about it, the last two starts that he's had, they've not been world-beating type starts," Colorado manager Jim Tracy said. "Last night, it seemed like he had baserunners on every inning."</p>
<p>With another win tonight, Jimenez would become the first Dominican-born 20- game winner since <span>Bartolo Colon</span> won 21 with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> in 2005.</p>
<p>"Just to be mentioned in that category would be really big," Jimenez said. "When the season is over, maybe I'll have time to think about what I've done. But right now I don't worry about whether I win 19 or 20. I'm just trying to be out there for my team and I'm just happy every time the team wins."</p>
<p>Jimenez, who is 5-3 with a 2.32 ERA in 13 games against the D-backs, is not expected to take the ball on short rest this weekend when the Rockies engage in a critical three-game series with the National League West-leading <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">San Francisco Giants</a>.</p>
<p>"I really believe the question is well taken, the significance of the situation is completely understood," Tracy said. "But with the workload that we've given this guy up to this point, I really think that's pushing the envelope way too hard, as far as I'm concerned."</p>
<p>The Rockies' hopes took a bit of a hit in Tuesday's opener of this three-game set, as <span>Joe Saunders</span> pitched eight stellar innings and <span>Kelly Johnson</span> hit a two-run homer, lifting Arizona to a 3-1 win.</p>
<p>Saunders (3-6) allowed one run on six hits with seven strikeouts for the Diamondbacks, who halted a three-game skid.</p>
<p>"It was nice to get out there and show people what I can do," said Saunders. "The biggest key tonight was throwing early strikes."</p>
<p><span>Ryan Spilborghs</span> drove in the only run for the Rockies, who have dropped two straight after a three-game win streak and fell 2 1/2 games behind the Giants, who blanked the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> earlier Tuesday.</p>
<p><span>Jorge De La Rosa</span> (8-5) suffered the loss after he yielded three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.</p>
<p>The Rockies are three games off the pace in the wild card standings.</p>
<p>Heading to the hill for Arizona tonight will be righty <span>Rodrigo Lopez</span>, who is 6-14 with a 4.98 ERA. Lopez won for the first time in 12 starts on Thursday in Cincinnati with a terrific effort that saw him allow a run and eight hits in seven innings.</p>
<p>Lopez lost to the Rockies two starts ago and is 0-3 in four games (three starts) against them with a 4.64 ERA.</p>
<p>Colorado has won nine of its 16 meetings with the Diamondbacks this season, but have lost five of seven in Arizona.</p>
https://denver.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/2321414/rockies-try-to-keep-playoff-hopes-alive-against-the-diamondbacksJon Woods