Todd Helton entered Saturday night with 2,499 hits, 365 home runs and a .317/.415/.540 career batting line during his time with the Colorado Rockies.
Greg Reynolds posted a 7.47 ERA, 11.8 hits per nine innings and just 3.8 strikeouts per nine in 27 career games in which he donned purple pinstripes.
Chances were good Helton would achieve his milestone with Reynolds on the mound, but instead, the 40-year-old first baseman whiffed three times -- twice against the Rockies' 2006 first-rounder -- and went 0-for-4 in Colorado's 8-3 loss to Cincinnati.
Helton flied out to deep left-center field in his first at-bat on a ball that, at first glance, appeared to be hit well enough to give him his nice, round hit number. Instead, it was the first of four outs made by Helton on a night in which he seemed to be pressing; No. 17 swung out of his shoes on multiple occasions and was made to look silly by Reynolds and later, Sam LeCure.
The Reds didn't look foolish on offense at all, producing 13 hits -- more than half of which came against Rockies starter Juan Nicasio -- in the easy win. Ryan Ludwick and Brandon Phillips had three knocks apiece, with the latter adding his 17th home run of the season.
Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning against Reynolds, who had allowed just one run on five hits in his first seven innings of work. It was a cringe-worthy performance from Reynolds, obviously not because he was bad, but because he did it against the team that used the No. 2 overall selection more than seven years ago to get him. In case you haven't heard this 20934u823942038423409234lp2304rlasrdpupasdf0 times over the past few years (and probably at least half that many tonight alone), the Rockies passed up on, among others, Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw and Evan Longoria to take the Stanford alum.
Reynolds also doubled for his first hit since joining the Reds and added a couple of good defensive plays, including the front part of a 1-6-3 double play that killed a Rockies rally in the third inning.
Charlie Blackmon had two hits for the Rockies, quietly increasing his production this month to .316/.346/.500.
*****
Source: FanGraphs
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