Associated Press
DENVER – Drew Stubbs had a hunch a curveball was coming, and he got all of it when it hung over the plate.
Stubbs capped Colorado’s five-run ninth inning with a three-run homer off J.J. Hoover, sending the Rockies to a 10-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader.
“He threw me two (curveballs) in a row and that one, he kind of left over the middle of the plate,” Stubbs said. “Didn’t really surprise me because I faced him the other night, and he threw me a first-pitch fastball and three (curveballs) in a row.”
The Reds carried a 9-5 lead into the ninth, but All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman walked four consecutive batters before he was replaced by Hoover. Pinch-hitter Wilin Rosario then hit a sacrifice fly to trim Cincinnati’s lead to two.
After Charlie Blackmon flied out, Stubbs drove a 1-0 pitch from Hoover (1-9) into the seats in left-center for his 12th homer. It was Stubbs’ third career game-ending homer and first with the Rockies.
He finished with three hits against his first major league team, and then he was doused with ice water by a teammate during an on-field interview after the game.
“They’re the team that drafted me and brought me to the big leagues, so I got a lot of friends over there, a lot of people I have good relationships with,” Stubbs said. “But at the same time, it’s always nice when a team trades you to get a little retribution.”
It was one tough loss for the Reds to swallow.
“I don’t think I can put it into words to be honest with you,” manager Bryan Price said. “The fact that (I’ve got to talk about it) right now is very difficult. We’re six minutes removed from the game being over.
“I’m not angry at anybody, but it’s a difficult loss to take.”
Rex Brothers (4-5) picked up the victory despite allowing a pair of runs in the top of the ninth. Nolan Arenado tied a career high with four hits for Colorado, and he also had a leadoff walk in the ninth.
The doubleheader was set up by Saturday night’s water main break outside Coors Field that left the ballpark without running water and forced the game to be pushed back one day. The water main was repaired by city crews overnight.
Jay Bruce and Kris Negron homered for the Reds, who fell to 10-18 since the All-Star break.
Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson also went deep for the Rockies.
The Rockies’ Michael Cuddyer, who won the NL batting title last season, went 1-for-5 in his return from a left shoulder fracture. He was injured June 5 against Arizona when he dove for a sharply hit grounder while playing third base.
A brief thunder shower prompted a 21-minute rain delay in the first.
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Reds: RHP Mike Leake (9-11) is slated to pitch Monday’s series opener at St. Louis, where Cincinnati has gone 1-10 in its last 11 series.
Rockies: Following an off day, LHP Tyler Matzek (2-8) is slated to pitch Tuesday against RHP James Shields (11-6) in the first of a two-game interleague series against Kansas City.
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The game was played with balls embossed with the No. 17 in recognition of Todd Helton, who wore that number during a stellar Colorado career and saw it retired during a pregame ceremony. He’s the first player in the team’s history to have his number retired.
