Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ubaldo Jimenez turned in seven strong innings and Clint Barmes drove in three runs as Colorado blitzed Pittsburgh, 9-3, to stop an eight-game losing skid in the finale of a three-game series at Coors Field.
Colorado Blitzes Pittsburgh 9-3, Jimenez Wins 16th
Dexter Fowler contributed three hits, including a two-run double, while Carlos Gonzalez and Brad Hawpe each hit a solo homer for the Rockies, who hadn't won since July 20 at Florida.
“It’s never fun to lose any games in a row,” admitted Barmes. “Especially considering where we’re at record-wise and our place in the division, This is a big game for us to come out and win.”
Jimenez (16-2) recovered from a horrible outing at Philadelphia on Saturday by scattering four hits and allowing one run, fanning six with three walks.
Neil Walker slugged a two-run shot for the Pirates, whose modest two-game win streak was halted.
Paul Maholm (6-9) was rocked for 11 hits and eight runs with three walks over 5 1/3 innings in the setback, his fifth loss in seven decisions.
Colorado tallied four times in the second to snap a 1-1 tie on Fowler’s two- run double followed by a two-run single from Barmes.
In the fifth, three straight singles -- from Melvin Mora, Ryan Spilborghs and Miguel Olivo -- pushed across the Rockies' sixth run. The Rockies picked up two more in the sixth on a Barmes RBI single and sacrifice fly from Troy Tulowitzki.
“I just didn’t do a good job in the fourth when they got their four runs,” said Maholm. They didn’t take bug swings, they just put the ball in play, got runners over and I wasn’t able to make the pitches.”
Hawpe's solo shot in the seventh made it 9-1 for Colorado, then Rafael Betancourt gave up a two-run blast to Walker in the eighth. Huston Street closed out the contest with a scoreless ninth. It was his first appearance on the mound since being hit in the lower body by a line drive in batting practice on Monday.
Each side picked up a run in the first, as Garrett Jones doubled in Jose Tabata for the Bucs and Gonzalez hit a two-out solo shot for the Rox.
Every Rockies starter except for third baseman Ian Stewart hit safely at least once...Jimenez was dented for three hits and six runs, with six walks over two-plus frames in that 10-2 loss to the Phillies. His only other defeat this season came against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on May 9...Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen was scratched from the lineup with a sore right shoulder...These clubs meet in Pittsburgh for four games from August 5-8.
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