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Jeff Francis. Rockies starter. Faced batter. Seventh inning.
ERROR. ERROR
*blam*
.....
So yeah. Francis pitched six full innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk. Granted, Francis was allowed a more normal total pitch count of 97 thanks to a string of upcoming off days, but it sure is invigorating to see a baseball game like this again.
Dexter Fowler led off the game with his 10th triple of the year, and would score the first Rockies run on a Marco Scutaro sacrifice fly. True to Jeff Francis form, the opposing team put up a retaliation run in the first inning as Jason Kubel hit his 22nd homer.
The Rockies took the lead back in the third, as Scutaro once again came through by doubling in Jeff Francis and Dexter Fowler. With the three RBI in the game, Scutaro equaled the amount of RBI in three innings that he did in his first 33 games as a Rockie. You keep raising that trade value! The offense continued as Wilin Rosario hit his 16th home run in the fourth inning. In the game, Fowler had three hits, while rookie Josh Rutledge continued to be hot, boasting two singles.
Francis allowed a home run to Rockie-killer Miguel Montero to lead off the seventh, prompting a move to the bullpen. Adam Ottavino and Matt Belisle kept the Diamondbacks down, and despite a two-out walk from Rafael Betancourt, he was able to retire Chris Young to end the game. Betancourt picked up his 17th save, while Francis picked up the win, his third since returning to the Rockies.
The Rockies are off tomorrow, and will return home to face the Reds on Friday as Drew Pomeranz is clear to start against my favorite non-Rockie, Bronson Arroyo. Game starts at 6:40, right about when the Olympic ceremony airs. Does Bronson Arroyo > Olympics? Undecided.
