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DENVER(AP) As the
Colorado Rockies
keep piling up the victories, a different star seems to emerge each day.
On Sunday, it was
Clint Barmes
' turn.
Barmes homered, drove in two runs and scored two more and the
Colorado Rockies
completed a sweep of the
Pittsburgh Pirates
and ran their latest winning streak to five games with a 5-4 victory.
Less than 24 hours after
Todd Helton
hit a game-winning homer in the ninth, the Rockies have won for the 16th time in 17 games - including an 11-game winning streak
- and improved to 18-5 under manager
Jim Tracy
.
Barmes doubled to drive in Colorado's second run of the in the second inning and homered in the fourth to score what proved
to be the game-winning run.
''
Clint Barmes
is thriving where he's hitting in our lineup right now,'' Tracy said. ''He's giving us everything we need from him at the
plate and he's making the plays in the field.''
The veteran second baseman and No. 2 hitter has eight home runs and is batting .290.
''I do what I can,'' Barmes said. ''And I'll take every hit I can get and make a contribution when the situation presented
me.''
Colorado finished its homestand 8-1.
''Great game to win, an incredible home stand,'' said Tracy, who took over for
Clint Hurdle
on May 29.
Jorge De La Rosa
(3-7) overcame a shaky start to win at Coors Field for the first time this season. He went 5 2-3 innings and allowed three
walks, four runs and seven hits. He also struck out six.
''In a game like today where both pitchers were battling the strike zone, he stuck it out and we were at least able to give
him a little run support,'' Barmes said of De La Rosa. ''This is the way we have been playing during this stretch.
Huston Street
worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances. Street has now recorded either a save or a win in 10 of his last 11
appearances.
Freddy Sanchez
homered and drove in three runs for the Pirates, who have lost four straight.
Pittsburgh starter
Paul Maholm
(4-4) allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out seven in five innings.
Rookie
Andrew McCutchen
tripled to open the game and one pitch later scored on a single to center by Sanchez. De La Rosa worked out of a bases-loaded
jam to avoid more damage.
The Pirates added two runs in the second. McCutchen singled with two outs and Sanchez followed with a home run that barely
cleared the wall in left field.
Colorado tied it at 3 in the second inning on an RBI single by
Dexter Fowler
and RBI doubles by Barmes and
Ryan Spilborghs
.
Barmes caught a break on his double when Sanchez lost his high popup in the sun behind second base. Although the cloudless
sky warranted sunglasses, Sanchez wasn't wearing any.
''I don't wear sunglasses. I flat out don't wear them because they affect me on ground balls,'' Sanchez said. ''I should have
made the play anyway.''
Pittsburgh manager
John Russell
agreed and bemoaned the play's consequences.
''Freddy normally makes that play,'' Russell said. ''It hurt. It cost us two runs.''
Garrett Atkins
drove in a run in the third with an opposite field single to give the Rockies the lead, 4-3.
Barmes hit a solo homer to left with one out in the fourth inning to make it a 5-3.
The Pirates chased De La Rosa in the sixth when they cut the lead to 5-4. Robinson Diaz reached on a fielders' choice and
moved to second when catcher
Paul Phillips
threw a pickoff attempt into right field. De La Rosa walked
Jack Wilson
and allowed an RBI single to pinch-hitter
Brandon Moss
.
NOTES: McCutchen has a 10-game hitting streak. ... The Pirates had their NL-leading 19th triple of the year. ... The Rockies
have won five straight series including four sweeps. ... Colorado is 14-8 against the NL Central Division and with 16 wins
this month the Rockies have had the most successful June in franchise history. ...
Seth Smith
is hitting .455 (10-for-22) as a pinch-hitter.
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