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The new Colorado Rockies manager, Warren Schaeffer, avoided Elly De La Cruz in his last three at bats by walking him to pitch to Austin Hays. It worked and led to a 3-2 win over the Reds.
Bud Black was fired on May 11 with the Rockies record at 7-33. Colorado is 15-39 since he took over. He gambled in the ninth walking De La Cruz as the potential winning run with two outs in the ninth. A risky move but then again the Rockies are going nowhere this year.
Noelvi Marte broke the seal in the third inning with a leadoff home run in the third. German Marquez surrendered Marte's fourth home run of the season.
Rookie sensation, Chase Burns, escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the third but a walk to Michael Toglia set up Ryan McMahon's 14th home run of the year to give the Rockies a 2-1 lead.
"He (Burns) tried a get-ahead curve ball. It was probably middle, I didn't see it," Terry Francona said. "He was aggressive. Other than that he was terrific."
Burns left after six innings. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out 10. Burns dropped his bloated ERA from 8.10 to 6.19. He allowed three runs in his last two games spanning 10 2/3 innings for a 2.53 ERA.
"It was a big improvement over my last start," Burns said. "It was one mistake that happened. I could have controlled the walks a little better."
Scott Barlow relieved Burns to start the seventh.
Marquez left with a 2-1 lead after six innings. He allowed one run on five hits and a three walks with an intentional walk to Elly De La Cruz. He struck out eight. He got a double play ground ball in the first inning out of Hays with runners on first and third with one out.
Will Benson singled and Marte doubled to greet Colorado reliever Jake Bird. TJ Friedl got the run home with a ground out that sent Marte to third with one out. Matt McLain grounded out to a drawn in third baseman, McMahon. Rockie manager Warren Schaeffer ordered De La Cruz walked for the second time. De La Cruz stole second. The strategy worked for the second time as Hays struck out looking.
Barlow struck out the three batters he faced in th seventh. Tony Santillan came on in the eighth to preserve the tie.
The Rockies loaded the bases with two outs as McMahon's third hit bounced off Santillan for an infield hit. A wild pitch gave the Rockies a 3-2 lead. Santillan's third strikeout of the inning came one pitch too late.
Lyon Richardson pitched a clean ninth inning.
The Reds faced Victor Vodnik in the bottom of the ninth.
Santiago Espinal doubled off the left field wall, leading off representing the tying run. Friedl went to a full count but struck out swinging. McLain struck out on a 3-2 pitch. The Rockies walked De La Cruz intentionally for the third straight time, giving Hays a fourth chance with a runner in scoring position. The count went full to Hays. Hays struck out swinging for the fourth straight time.
It capped an awful night for Hays, who has more than his share of clutch hits.
De La Cruz three intentional walks is two short of the record. On May 22, 1990 Lou Piniella ordered Andre Dawson walked five times in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 16 innings. Lloyd McClendon was 0-6 in the game but pinch hitter, Dave Clark singled home the winning run.
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