DENVER – The Colorado Rockies returned to Coors Field a week ago scuffling on offense. They finished their final homestand with a dominant performance at the plate.
Michael Cuddyer homered, Rafael Ynoa drove in three runs, and the Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 on Sunday.
The Rockies swept a four-game series for the first time this season. It was their second sweep in as many homestands after going three months without one.
“I’m glad we finished with a strong homestand,” Rockies’ manager Walt Weiss said. “A little token of appreciation to the fans that have been hanging in there with us.”
Brandon Barnes had two hits and two RBIs, while Wilin Rosario also had two hits and scored three runs for the Rockies. Colorado has won a season-high six in a row while trying to avoid a third consecutive last-place finish.
The Rockies’ offense came into the homestand having scored 10 runs in six games but exploded against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Colorado scored 61 runs in its final six games at Coors Field this season to climb out of the NL West cellar, three games ahead of reeling Arizona.
“It was good to see us not quit. We’re still playing the game hard, still playing good baseball,” Cuddyer said. “That’s big. That’s big for a lot of these guys to see we’re not quitting. Going forward, years to come, it’s good to see guys trying to play the game.”
Rookie right-hander Christian Bergman (3-4) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings to pick up the victory.
Mark Trumbo homered twice and drove in all three runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost six in a row and 13 of 16 games.
“In June, we swept them, outscored them 32-17. And it’s kind of a reversal in this series in four games,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “I don’t really have an explanation. We tried to throw everything at them. They swung the bats really well, scored a lot of runs. And we weren’t swinging the bats very well, so (we we were) unable to shut them down.”
DJ LeMahieu got things rolling for Colorado with an RBI single in the second, and Barnes made it 3-0 with a two-run double in the third.
The Rockies broke it open in the fifth off starter Wade Miley (8-12). Stubbs had a run-scoring single, and Ynoa doubled with the bases loaded to knock in two more and give Colorado a 6-0 lead.
Miley allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
“Didn’t have very good command at all. And it’s getting old for me to have one good start and the next start where you walk three or four guys,” Miley said. “Couldn’t find the fastball early, and it just kind of snowballed with every other pitch.”
Trumbo hit a two-run homer off Bergman in the sixth to make it 6-2. Bergman left for left-hander Franklin Morales and was disappointed he couldn’t finish the inning.
“Obviously, I want to stay in the game,” he said. “I feel like I can get out of that inning. It’s two outs, nobody on and a four-run lead. If I don’t feel like I couldn’t finish that inning I probably shouldn’t be out there in the first place. I felt like I had enough left, but it is what it is.”
Cuddyer’s home run in the eighth extended the Rockies’ streak to 22 consecutive home games in which they’ve gone deep. It’s the second longest streak in franchise history and longest home streak in baseball since Philadelphia had a 22-game streak in 2006.
Rockies rumpus
Michael Cuddyer’s home run was his 10th of the season. He now has had 10 or more home runs in six conecutive seasons. He has had double-digit homers in 10 of his 11 full seasons in the majors. ... Mark Trumbo has found a comfort level at Coors Field. He now is hitting .400 with seven home runs and 15 RBIs in his last seven games in Denver. ... Rockies 1B Justin Morneau was given the day off for rest. This was a planned rest for Morneau, who entered Sunday tied with Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison in the NL batting race. ... Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter (10-8) will face the Minnesota Twins for the first time while trying to set a career high in wins. Collmenter also had 10 wins in 2011. ... Rockies rookie LHP Tyler Matzek will make just his 19th career start Monday, and four will have come against the San Diego Padres. Matzek threw a three-hit shutout against San Diego on Sept. 5 for his first win against the Padres.
