Stewart, Rockies end Reds’ 7-game winning streak

By The Associated Press | The Tribune

Originally published 01:13 a.m., September 8, 2009
Updated 01:13 a.m., September 8, 2009

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies escaped with a win on Ian Stewart’s tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning.

Now, they’re hoping to avoid a bigger loss — Troy Tulowitzki.

The NL wild card-leading Rockies rallied for a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday despite losing their smooth-fielding shortstop.

Tulowitzki left the game in the seventh with a strained lower back after hitting a game-tying single. He’s listed as day-to-day.

‘‘I’m not sure what happened. I took a swing and I felt a little something and felt like I was a little locked up,’’ Tulowitzki said. ‘‘I’m a little sore right now and tight. Maybe I’ll wake up and feel good to go (Tuesday).’’

Tulowitzki tried to convince manager Jim Tracy that he could remain in the game. He nearly succeeded too, until Tracy saw him jog down the first-base line to test his back and favoring it.

Tracy decided to insert Omar Quintanilla, not wanting to take a risk.

‘‘You can’t lose this guy for an extended period of time,’’ Tracy said.

The Rockies ended Cincinnati’s seven-game winning streak and maintained their two-game cushion over the San Francisco Giants, who kept pace by beating San Diego on Monday.

Stewart delivered the big blow, hitting a solo shot off reliever Carlos Fisher (1-1) for his 23rd homer of the season. Fisher, who was called up Monday from Single-A Sarasota, said he threw a two-seam fastball that stayed over the heart of the plate.

‘‘I let the team down,’’ Fisher said.

The homer was a measure of revenge for Stewart, who struck out earlier this season against Fisher in Cincinnati.

‘‘I put a pretty good swing on it,’’ Stewart said.

That was the first time all day. Stewart struck out in three previous trips to the plate.

Rafael Betancourt (2-1) earned the win with a perfect eighth, while Franklin Morales, filling in for the injured Huston Street, pitched out of a jam to pick up his fourth save in five chances.

Morales, however, certainly didn’t make things easy.

The Reds had two on and none out in the ninth, but Morales got Jonny Gomes to fly out and then Scott Rolen was thrown out on the back end of a double-steal attempt.

Reds’ boxscore

Monday’s Game

Rockies 4, Reds 3

Cincinnati Colorado

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Stubbs cf 3 0 0 0 CGnzlz cf 4 1 1 0

Janish ss 4 1 1 0 S.Smith lf 3 0 1 0

Votto 1b 3 0 1 0 Helton 1b 3 0 1 2

BPhllps 2b 4 0 2 0 Tlwtzk ss 3 0 1 1

Rolen 3b 3 1 2 1 Quntnll pr-ss 0 0 0 0

Gomes lf 4 1 1 2 Hawpe rf 1 0 0 0

DMcDn rf 4 0 0 0 Stewart 3b 4 1 1 1

CMiller c 3 0 1 0 Barmes 2b 4 0 1 0

HBaily p 2 0 0 0 Iannett c 2 0 1 0

Masset p 0 0 0 0 Jimenz p 2 1 1 0

Barker ph 1 0 0 0 GAtkns ph 0 0 0 0

Rhodes p 0 0 0 0 Daley p 0 0 0 0

Fisher p 0 0 0 0 EYong ph 1 1 1 0

Herrer p 0 0 0 0 RBtncr p 0 0 0 0

Splrghs ph 1 0 0 0

FMorls p 0 0 0 0

Totals 31 3 8 3 Totals 28 4 9 4

Cincinnati 000 300 000 — 3

Colorado 001 000 21x — 4

E—H.Bailey (2), S.Smith (1). DP—Colorado 2. LOB—Cincinnati 4, Colorado 9. 2B—S.Smith (17). HR—Gomes (18), Stewart (23). CS—Stubbs (3), Rolen (2). S—S.Smith, Iannetta. SF—Helton.

IP H R ER BB SO

Cincinnati

H.Bailey 5 2-3 5 1 1 5 6

Masset H,13 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Rhodes BS,2-2 1 2 2 2 1 1

Fisher L,1-1 2-3 2 1 1 0 0

Herrera 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Colorado

Jimenez 6 6 3 3 3 5

Daley 1 0 0 0 0 1

R.Betancourt W,2-1 1 0 0 0 0 2

F.Morales S,4-5 1 2 0 0 0 1

Umpires—Home, Mark Wegner; First, Rick Reed; Second, Jeff Kellogg; Third, Mike Muchlinski. T—2:52. A—40,357 (50,449).

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