Rosario's HRs part of Rox onslaught vs. Fish
DENVER -- Wilin Rosario homered twice, Carlos Gonzalez went deep at home for the first time since April 25 and lefty spot starter Chris Rusin struck out eight in seven innings as the Rockies topped the Marlins, 10-5, at Coors Field on Saturday afternoon.
After an early 11-game losing streak, the Rockies have stabilized. Saturday's victory was their 10th in the last 14 games, and they are 15-10 since the slump ended. Although they're last in the National League West at 25-29, they'll be no more than six games from the top when they enter Sunday looking to win the series against the Marlins.
"We've got to battle, stay in the mix and go on a hot streak; I don't think we've gone on a hot streak yet," said Gonzalez, a two-time All-Star who started slowly, but has hits in eight of the last nine games. Saturday's two hits lifted his batting average to .239.
Colorado collected a season-high 17 hits -- 11 off Miami starter David Phelps. A four-run Rockies first against Phelps (2-3) included Nolan Arenado's two-run triple and Michael McKenry's RBI triple -- his first career three-bagger. Rosario homered with one out in the third, and in the fourth, Gonzalez launched his fifth homer of the season to chase Phelps. Rosario followed with his fourth homer, off reliever Andre Rienzo, for a 10-2 lead.
"I think I made three quality pitches all day," Phelps said. "I wasn't getting ahead of guys. I wasn't hitting my spots. I was up in the zone, and it was really just a terrible game."
Rusin (2-0) threw strikes on 67 of his 99 pitches and gave up two runs on seven hits.
Video: MIA@COL: Rusin fans eight over seven innings pitched
"He knows how to pitch -- knows how to put sequences together, finish an at-bat, get a ground ball when he needs it, elevate the ball when he needs to do that," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
DJ LeMahieu supported the Rockies' offense with three hits, including a double. Charlie Blackmon knocked three hits and has eight hits in his last three games.
The Marlins' three-run, five-hit ninth was sparked by Adeiny Hechavarria's leadoff triple off Rafael Betancourt, who has yielded eight runs in his last four appearances covering two innings. Jeff Baker capped the scoring with a two-run single.
Video: MIA@COL: Baker sends two home on a single
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Go for gold: Marlins fleet leadoff hitter Dee Gordon isn't afraid of gold. Gordon lined Rusin's first pitch into the right-field corner, but Gonzalez (three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards) fired to LeMahieu (one Gold Glove), who relayed to third baseman Arenado (two) for the game's first out.
Video: MIA@COL: Rockies' relay catches Gordon at third
Flopping in the first: The first inning has been a problem throughout Phelps' career, but that wasn't the case this season until Saturday. Phelps had surrendered just three first-inning runs (two earned) in nine starts before Colorado's four-spot. Phelps' career ERA in the first inning is 5.29.
"We were sloppy in the first inning as a team all around," Marlins manager Dan Jennings said. "A lot of pitches elevated, and this is not a good ballpark to do that in. You can't miss up here, and [Phelps] just didn't drive the ball down like he was capable of doing."
No fear: With Rusin holding a 4-1 lead, Martin Prado tripled with one out in the fifth and the Nos. 3 and 4 hitters coming up. Rusin, however, goaded the dangerous Giancarlo Stanton into swinging through a 2-2 changeup (one of the four times he fanned Stanton) and forced a Baker grounder. More >
They can do it again: The homers by Gonzalez and Rosario marked the first time this season the Rockies -- with an offense expected to put up big runs and hit for power -- have gone back-to-back. More >
Video: MIA@COL: Rockies hit back-to-back homers in the 4th
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Rusin pulled off a one-out bunt single in the fourth to begin the five-run, two-homer inning. Rockies starting pitchers had been in an 0-for-45 skid. The last hit before Rusin's was Jorge De La Rosa's single May 10.
SETTING HIMSELF UP
Daniel Descalso, filling in at shortstop while Troy Tulowitzki rested, bobbled a Jeff Mathis grounder for an error that took away a near-certain double play in the sixth. But Descalso redeemed himself with a full-length dive to snare Hechavarria's line drive.
Video: MIA@COL: Descalso dives to make a nice catch
QUOTABLE
"We've been sneaking up on that roll. I don't think it happens all in one day. We've been getting better incrementally over the last couple of weeks. It was nice seeing that output." -- Weiss, on whether Saturday's offensive performance can catapult the Rockies
WHAT'S NEXT
Marlins: Rookie right-hander Jose Urena (0-2, 7.24 ERA) makes his third run though the Marlins' rotation in Sunday's 4:10 p.m. ET series finale, hoping to build off his last start. Urena gave up three runs over six innings on Monday, but he owns a 9.39 ERA on the road this season.
Rockies: Rockies right-hander Kyle Kendrick (2-7, 6.55 ERA) must welcome seeing the Marlins on Sunday. Kendrick is 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA at Coors Field, but he is 14-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 26 career games (21 starts) against the Marlins.
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