Sports Network | July 29, 2010
Denver, CO (Sports Network) – Garrett Jones homered twice as part of a four- hit night and drove in three runs as the Pirates overcame an early injury to pitcher Ross Ohlendorf to beat the Colorado Rockies, 6-2, at Coors Field.
Neil Walker added a two-run single as Pittsburgh posted back-to-back road wins for the first time since May 14-15 against the Cubs.
Ohlendorf was struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Troy Tulowitzki in the first inning. With a runner at third and two outs, Tulowitzki lined a ball off the side of Ohlendorf’s head and the ball bounced into right field. Carlos Gonzalez scored on the play for a 1-0 Colorado lead.
Ohlendorf went to a local hospital, but a CT scan came up negative and he was diagnosed with a contusion and abrasion.
Sean Gallagher (1-0) fanned four batters over three innings to get the win.
Aaron Cook (4-7) allowed six hits and five runs over 2 1/3 innings to drop his second straight start.
Gonazlez homered for the Rockies, who have lost eight in a row, their longest skid since dropping the same amount, June 22-30, 2008.
Jones broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning Tuesday night with a go-ahead run- scoring double, on the way to a 4-2 victory. He led off the second Wednesday night with a homer to right field, and the Pirates scored four times in the third. Gallagher walked with one out and Andrew McCutchen reached safely on a single. Jose Tabata legged out an infield hit and Walker followed with a two- run hit to center. Jones and Pedro Alvarez each added RBI singles, signaling the end for Cook as he was replaced by Manuel Corpas.
Gonzalez homered to right off the facade of the upper deck leading off the bottom of the sixth against Javier Lopez, getting the Rockies within 5-2, but Jones sent a Randy Flores offering over the wall in right to begin the eighth.
The Pirates tied a season-high by homering in a fourth straight game…Seth Smith had three hits for the Rockies, who left nine men on base…Pittsburgh has won just three of the last 12 games in Denver.