Rockies scorch Reds 12-6 behind eight run inning

One night after being shut out in Minnesota, the Colorado Rockies exploded for twelve runs on Friday night in Cincinnati. Tyler Anderson had a strong outing and, despite the now expected adventures of Jordan Lyles, the Rockies were able to avoid using their best relief pitchers as they cruised to a 12-6 victory.

Charlie Blackmon started the game off well for the visitors with a double. DJ LeMahieu was hit by a pitch and Nolan Arenado singled to load the bases for Mark Reynolds, who blooped a single into right field to give Colorado a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Carlos Gonzalez, lifted a sacrifice fly that plated the second run off of Reds starter Lisalverto Bonilla.

The 2-0 margin held until the fourth inning when Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run off of Anderson to cut the Rockies’ lead in half. Heading into the top of the sixth, it was a tight 2-1 game.

Before the top of the sixth was over, the Rockies were up 10-1 after sending fourteen batters to the plate. Alexi Amarista cranked a three-run homer to right field, his second of the season. DJ LeMahieu closed the book on Bonilla with a two-run double off of Cincinnati reliever Wandy Peralta that made the score 7-1. Next up was Nolan Arenado, and he smacked a home run off the facade of the second deck in left field that gave the Rockies an eight-run lead. A few batters later, Amarista singled for his fourth RBI of the inning and gave Colorado a 10-1 lead.

Tyler Anderson went six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked two while throwing 99 pitches, 68 for strikes. Jordan Lyles made the game somewhat interesting by allowing two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, which made the score 10-6 when the Rockies came to bat in the ninth.

With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Mark Reynolds hit his second RBI single of the game, driving in Blackmon and LeMahieu and giving the visitors a 12-6 lead. It was the last of sixteen hits on the night for the Rockies.

The six run advantage allowed Jake McGee to remain in the game after allowing two baserunners in the bottom of the ninth, and he was able to finish the Reds off with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Rockies are now 27-16, and they have tied their season high of 11 games over .500. They are 3-1 on their current road trip and 14-6 on the road overall. They’ll try to keep it going tomorrow at 2:10 MT, when Antonio Senzatela takes on Tim Adleman of the Reds.