Rockies use two key defensive plays late to nip Cincinnati

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 14, 2005

DENVER (AP) - Todd Greene homered and had three RBIs, and the Colorado Rockies made two spectacular defensive plays in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 Sunday for their fourth straight victory and first sweep this season.

Cincinnati pulled to 7-6 in the eighth on Felipe Lopez's RBI single and had runners at second and third with no outs against Blaine Neal (1-1).

Joe Randa hit a hard liner toward the hole on the right side, but first baseman Todd Helton sprawled out to make the catch. Brian Fuentes relieved and got Sean Casey to hit a hard grounder to third base. Defensive replacement Desi Relaford made a diving stop and wheeled to get pinch-runner Luis Lopez at the plate.

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Fuentes then struck out Ken Griffey Jr. to end the inning. He pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save.

Clint Barmes added a solo homer in the eighth for Colorado, on its longest winning streak since taking four straight last July 3-6.

Cincinnati's chief operating officer John Allen flew to Denver before the game to talk with manager Dave Miley about the direction of the struggling franchise.

It didn't help. The Reds had 13 hits and Casey hit his third homer, but the Reds left 10 runners on to lose their fifth straight and 14th in 17 road games.