Sam Hilliard Returns To The Rockies And Provides The Offense In Win Over Reds

 

  

Sam Hillard hit two home runs, his first since April 2023 to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 6-5 win over the Reds to give them a shot at a series split on Thursday.

Hilliard hit his first home run in over a year with Nolan Jones, who walked on first base.  His contract was selected from Albuerque on June 21 after leaving the Rockies in 2022 to play in Atlanta.

Ezequiel Tovar doubled over the head of the newest Red, Austin Slater, and advanced to third with no outs in the third. Tovar scored on a two-out single by Elias Diaz off Reds' starter Frankie Montas.

Jonathan India victimized Rockies' starter Kyle Freeland leading off the third inning with his seventh home run.

Hilliard hit his second home run into the left field stands to start the fourth.  The Rockies added a run in the sixth. The red hot Brenton Dolye walked and scored from first on a double from Jake Cave.

The Reds had a promising inning deflate when Tyler Stephenson was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple.  After a ground out Noelvi Marte doubled, his second hit. Rece Hinds' sixth hit of his young three-game career was his first single to drive in Marte

"When an outfielder dives for a ball like that you think triple, David Bell said. "Even when he got to second base, I thought it was a triple all the way. We got thrown out on it. We would prefer he was on second. It look like his stride broke around second."

Three straight singles resulted in a run off Brent Suter in the eighth. Doyle  drove home Ryan McMahon. Michael Toglia hit into a double play to mitigate the damage.

Stephenson picked up third base coach J.R. House who was frantically waving him to third.

"Obviously, I don't have Elly's speed where it is an automatic but I picked him up," Stephenson said. "He was giving me the green light and I gave it everything I could. I'm not the perfect example but we're aggressive. They made a great relay."

Victor Vodnik relieved Freeland. He finished the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth.

Montas lasted seven innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and two costly walks and Hilliard's two home runs. He struck out seven.

"We saw his best fastball, a really good split," Bell said. "The walk before the first home run hurt but other than that, he looked strong and had great stuff. We have to go back and look but he looked great and strong. We look forward to him having a good second half."

Freeland pitched into the seventh, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out nine.

Tyler Stephenson homered off Vodnik, his eighth of the season and second in two games. Jalen Beeks relieved Vodnik.  Pinch hitter Austin Wynns singled. Marte's third hit brought the tying run to the plate. Hinds lined out to right. Santiago Espinal singled to score Wynns, send Marte to third and he went to second on the throw to third. India hit a sacrifice fly to right. Elly De La Cruz grounded out to end the game.

"We had good at bats that inning," Bell said. 

"Any time you fall short it's tough," Stephenson said. "We made them use another reliever before tomorrow.  We had a little momentum there."