Rockies Smash Reds

The day didn't start well for Dusty Baker and the Reds.

It's ace and scheduled starting pitcher was placed on the 15-day disabled list with pain in his lat muscle.  The Reds bussed Pedro Villarreal in from Louisville to make the emergency start.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

The next emergency was for Dusty Baker, who walked a couple miles to the mound replacing pitchers.

Carlos Gonzalez hit his 15th home run of the season off Villarreal with two outs in the first inning.

The Reds took out its frustration on Colorado starter, Jon Garland.  Zack Cozart doubled and scored on a two-out single by Todd Frazier.  Xavier Paul hit his fourth home run of the season with two runners on to put the Reds up 4-1.

If it weren't for the formality of eight more innings the Reds and its fans would have been as happy as a kid with the keys to a Mr. Softee truck.

Villarreal was greeted harshly by the Rockies new edition "Blake Street Bombers.

"That was a butt whipping," Baker said.  "We knew when they (Colorado Rockies) came in here, they could hit. There won't be any carry over.  We beat St. Louis like that early in the year.  It happens."

Troy Tulowitzki, who homered to provide the Rockie's win on Tuesday, hit his his 14th home run with a runner on but the Reds still held a 4-3 lead.

Gonzalez put the Rockies ahead with a three-run home run off Villarreal in the fourth.  Todd Helton hit his 11th home run off Alfredo Simon in the seventh. Gonzalez hit another two-run home run in the eighth off Manny Parra, his 17th of the year.  It was the second three home run game in Gozalez career.  Tulowitzki followed with his second home run of the game.

"It was my turn to pitch in Louisville.  They told me yesterday when I came to the clubhouse that I was coming up.  I was glad to be up here to pitch."

Villarreal thought he would be able to get out of the fourth inning.  It started with a walk to Jonathan Herrera, the eighth batter in the lineup.  Garland couldn't bunt him over on two attempts. He hit away and bounced into a double play.  With the bases empty and two outs, it seemed likely that he would get out of the inning with the lead but he walked Eric Young.  Nolan Arenado singled and Gonzalez launched the 11th longest home run in Great American Ball Park history 476 ft into right centerfield.

"It was too bad I wasn't able to hold onto the lead," Villarreal said.

The final margin was 12-4 Colorado.  The Reds lost a series at home for only the second time this season.  The Atlanta Braves took 2-of-3 May 6-8th.

The Reds managed two hits after the four-run first.

"It is disheartening," Baker said. "That's happened three or four times lately.  I don't know if they (opposing pitchers) are shutting us down or we're not swinging the bats well."