|
ANAHEIM, Calif.(AP) The
Colorado Rockies
shouldn't have been too upset after losing for only the second time in 19 games. It was the way they lost that left everyone
in the clubhouse as glum as a team on a 10-game skid.
Bobby Abreu
drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning after third baseman
Ian Stewart
messed up two bunt plays, and the
Los Angeles Angels
won 4-3 Tuesday night.
The Rockies had won six straight overall and a club-record nine in a row on the road.
''We're a good ballclub and we don't give up,'' Angels center fielder
Torii Hunter
said. ''When you beat a team like that, the hottest team in baseball, that says something. That was big for us.''
The victory, coupled with Texas' 8-2 loss at Arizona, put the two-time defending AL West champions into a first-place tie
for the first time since their opening day win against Oakland.
Troy Tulowizki's two home runs and three RBIs helped
Ubaldo Jimenez
(6-7) take a 3-2 lead into the eighth. He walked
Jeff Mathis
leading off the inning, and
Erick Aybar
was credited with a bunt single after Stewart fielded the ball up the line and looked toward second before throwing late to
first.
''When (Stewart) fielded the ball on the first bunt and looked to second, you've got to be mindful of who's going down the
line,'' said Rockies manager
Jim Tracy
, who is 19-6 since replacing
Clint Hurdle
said. ''If you get the out at first base, it changes the complexion of the entire inning.''
Chone Figgins
followed with a bunt toward the mound and Jimenez got it to third in time for an apparent force, but Stewart didn't have his
foot on the bag when he took the throw. Abreu, 2 for 17 before that at-bat, worked the count to 3-1 before singling to right.
''Jimenez made a terrific play on the bunt that followed. And if we're on the bag, we've got an out at third base,'' Tracy
said. ''But we didn't get either one, which set up the dramatics for them to get the big hit. It's obviously a tough game
to lose.''
Juan Rivera
homered for the Angels and
Kevin Jepsen
(2-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the victory. Former Rockies closer
Brian Fuentes
got three outs for his 20th save in 23 chances, tying San Diego's
Heath Bell
for the major league lead.
Fuentes was a three-time All-Star with Colorado, and his 115 saves are the franchise record.
''I have fond memories of playing there. It was awesome,'' Fuentes said. ''I was well-received by the fans and I enjoyed playing
there for the time I did. But it was time to move on.''
Jimenez allowed four runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings and struck out five. The critical eighth-inning walk was his
only one of the game.
''We hung in there against a guy who has a great arm,'' Hunter said. ''Jimenez had nasty stuff. He struck Bobby out twice,
but Bobby came through in the end and picked us up big-time. Bobby's a veteran hitter, and when the situation calls for it,
he's ready for it.''
Sean O'Sullivan gave up three runs and five hits in his second major league start. The 21-year-old right-hander was recalled
from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday when
Ervin Santana
was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his triceps.
The Rockies were trailing 2-1 when
Brad Hawpe
led off the sixth with a single. Two pitches later, Tulowitzki hit a towering drive off the left field pole for his second
homer of the game and 12th this season, the most among big league shortstops. The multihomer effort was the first of his career
and the fifth this season by a Rockies player.
NOTES: Angels DH
Vladimir Guerrero
, who came in with only one homer in 128 at-bats this season, had his trademark dreadlocks cut off Tuesday before he got to
the ballpark. ... The Rockies have homered in a season-high seven straight games.
|