Early Slam Buries Cook, Rockies

A frustrating first inning proved to be all the Angels needed to best the Rockies tonight. Four of the first five Angels to approach the plate reached base: two singles and a ball thrown into center field by Ian Stewart while attempting to turn a double play, all scoring when Hideki Matsui went deep. This was Aaron Cook's first grand slam allowed since 2003.

Cook settled in significantly after the first, and pitched the rest of the game, giving our fatigued bullpen a much needed rest before the next few series. Despite the loss, this likely represents Cook's best outing on the road so far this season.

The Rockies chipped away at the deficit with a solo Clint Barmes home run in the top of the third, and a run produced by Melvin Mora and Miguel Olivo in the fourth, both of whom had a great deal of success against Joe Saunders while playing in the American League. Anaheim starter Saunders pitched through the 7th, turning the game over to Angels' late gamers Fernando Rodney and Brian Fuentes. Fuentes, the Rockies saves leader, saved his new team from his old after Olivo slapped a line drive that was snagged in a jump worthy of an Olympian by Anaheim second baseman Howie  Howard Kendrick, doubling Mora off of first base to end the game.

The Rockies continued to strike out far too frequently for comfort, accumulating a total of 9. Singles by Jonathan Herrera and Ryan Spilborghs rounded out the five hits Colorado managed.

The series will conclude tomorrow in a rubber match between Jhoulys Chacin, looking to keep his roster spot when Jorge De La Rosa returns in the near future, and Ervin Santana goes for Anaheim. The game will begin at 1:35 MT tomorrow.

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