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 Nolan Arenado led a 16-hit attack as the Rockies continued their
bashing ways a 9-2 rout of the Rangers on Wednesday at Globe Life
Park.
It was the third consecutive win for the Rockies over the Rangers,
with the combined score of those games 29-5. Arenado, Colorado's
23-year-old third baseman, extended his hitting streak to a
club-record-tying 27 games and drove in the first two runs of the
game on a first-inning double.
"It was nice to be able get a pitch to hit," Arenado said. "(Texas
starter Colby Lewis) left a cutter or a slider up, and I was able to
put a good swing on it. It was a good start for the team."
The first two Colorado wins were in Denver, as the clubs are
essentially playing a split home-and-home four-game series this
week. The Rangers will look to salvage the final game Thursday at
home.
The streaking Rockies are 22-14, including 16-6 since April 15.
Colorado starter Jorge De La Rosa improved to 4-3 after going six
innings and allowing two runs on just three hits.
Every member of the Colorado lineup had a hit, with Arenado going
3-for-4. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, right fielder Charlie Blackmon,
left fielder Carlos Gonzalez and center fielder Drew Stubbs also had
multiple hits.
The Rockies are 9-9 on the road but 5-2 in their past seven away
games. Colorado manager Walt Weiss likes the approach he is seeing
away from Coors Field.
"I feel like we've done that this year," he said. "We've played well
on the road, we've swung the bats well on the road, so that's what
it's going to take. We have to dominate at home, but we have to play
well on the road to win a division. So far, so good.
"It's nice to see these guys keep it rolling. We know it can be a
dangerous offense when we get multiple guys hot, and that's what
we've got right now."
Texas (17-17) remains in a tailspin after dropping the opener of a
five-game homestand. The Rangers lost for the ninth time in 12
games, often getting blown out during the streak, as they continue
to match poor pitching with silent bats.
"Combination of both," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We're
struggling a little bit, but we've run into a very hot team.
Everything that Colby threw in the strike zone, they hit."
The Rockies strung together three consecutive hits against Lewis
with two outs in the first to get on the board. Shortstop Troy
Tulowitzki and left fielder Carlos Gonzalez got it going with
singles, and both scored on Arenado's double to left.
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Lewis ran into more trouble in the fourth, as Colorado's first four
batters notched hits. The Rockies scored five times in the inning to
take a commanding 7-0 lead.
Catcher Michael McKenry and right fielder Charlie Blackmon each had
run-scoring singles, with designated hitter Corey Dickerson and
Tulowitzki adding sacrifice flies. Gonzalez's solo home run to
right-center ended Lewis' night.
Lewis (2-2) allowed seven runs on 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
The Rockies added two runs in the fifth against Texas reliever Scott
Baker, who was called up from Triple-A earlier in the day. Stubbs
doubled and scored on LeMahieu's triple. Dickerson singled to bring
home LeMahieu for a 9-2 advantage.
The lifeless Rangers were held in check by De La Rosa, who didn't
allow a hit until left fielder Michael Choice singled in the fourth.
Third baseman Adrian Beltre followed with a two-run shot to center,
his 100th career homer for Texas.
The Rangers finished with five hits.
"We weren't able to get anything going out there offensively,"
Washington said.
NOTES: Texas had a different No. 2 hitter in the lineup for the
fifth consecutive game. LF Michael Choice had that honor Wednesday,
following CF Leonys Martin, OF Daniel Robertson, INF Josh Wilson and
SS Elvis Andrus. ... Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado's first-inning double
extended his hitting streak to 27, tying the club record set by OF
Michael Cuddyer last season. Arenado's streak is the longest in the
majors this season, and the longest by anyone 23 or younger since
Albert Pujols (then 23) had a 30-game streak in 2003. ... Colorado
began an eight-day, seven-game road trip.
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