Rockies’ run reaches 6, Cook breaks leg
September 9, 2010
DENVER (AP)—The Colorado Rockies were rolling along to their sixth consecutivevictory when disaster struck in the form of a hard liner off starting pitcherAaron Cook’s(notes) lower right leg.
Suddenly, another big night for Troy Tulowitzki(notes) was just an afterthought.
Colorado Rockies ' Eric Yo… AP – Sep 8, 9:29 pm EDT Cin-Col Gallery function prev_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index > 0) { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index – 1); } else { goto_photo(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index); }}function next_photo() { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index 0) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_prev, prev_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_prev, prev); } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_last_index) { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.addClass(article_carousel_next, next_disabled); YAHOO.util.Dom.removeClass(article_carousel_next, next); }*/}function goto_photo(p) { if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { for(i = 0; i < YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos.length; i++) { if (i == p) { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, ); } else { YAHOO.util.Dom.setStyle(YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos[i], display, none); } } if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page) { YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page.innerHTML =(p + 1); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = p; } } update_buttons();}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init = function () { YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_prev, click, prev_photo); YAHOO.util.Event.addListener(article_carousel_next, click, next_photo); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_index = 0; YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_current_page = YAHOO.util.Dom.get(carousel_page); YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos = YAHOO.util.Dom.getElementsByClassName(item, div, leadphoto); if (YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_photos) { goto_photo(0); }}YAHOO.Sports.article_carousel_init(); Series at a Glance Cincinnati 5 Colorado 10 Mon, Sep 6 – Final Cincinnati 3 Colorado 4 Tue, Sep 7 – Final Cincinnati 2 Colorado 9 Wed, Sep 8 – Final Cincinnati at Colorado Thu, Sep 9 – 3:10 pm ET
Tulowitzki homered twice in Colorado’s 9-2 victory over the strugglingCincinnati Reds, but the Rockies lost Cook to a broken leg when Joey Votto’s(notes)comebacker got him in the sixth inning Wednesday.
However, manager Jim Tracy said Cook’s season may not be finished just yet.He intimated there remains a chance the franchise’s career leader in wins couldbe back on the mound.
“We’re going to have to deal with that and see where it takes us, as far asa time frame and things like that,” said Tracy, whose club matched theirlongest winning streak of the season.
Cook hobbled around the mound for a few minutes after he was struck, thengingerly walked off the field and into the dugout. The team reported the injuryas a bruise, but X-rays revealed it was more serious.
“That breaks your heart that something like this would happen to him,”Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. “You hate to see it happen to somebodythat’s worked real hard to get back into a position to really be acontributor.”
Cook (6-8) was cruising before the injury, allowing one run and six hits infive-plus innings. It was his second straight win since coming off the disabledlist with a right big toe ailment.
“He was commanding the strike zone like the Cook of old and was gettingground balls consistently,” Apodaca said, shaking his head. “How do youexplain something like this, the timing of it?”
Tulowitzki provided the bulk of the offense, hitting a three-run homer inthe third and a solo shot two innings later for his second career multihomergame.
Seth Smith(notes) had a solo shot while youngsters Jonathan Herrera(notes) and Eric Young(notes)Jr. each delivered a two-run single. Carlos Gonzalez(notes) extended his hitting streakto 16 games with a bloop single in the sixth.
With the win, Colorado remains 4 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NLwild-card race.
Despite their fourth straight loss, the Reds still lead the NL Central bysix games over St. Louis. The Cardinals lost 8-1 at Milwaukee.
“Another chance to pick up the game, but you’ve got to look at the brightside,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We didn’t lose any ground either andit’s one less game on the schedule. We’ve got to feel fortunate it happened, butwe’ve got to win.”
Bronson Arroyo(notes) (14-10) was hit hard, yielding seven runs in 4 1-3 inningsand surrendering a season-high three homers.
“It’s a well-balanced lineup, but it’s nothing you don’t feel you can’tpitch to,” Arroyo said. “They’ve been hot, they’ve play good in this ballparkand we’re just not getting it done. They beat me straight up.”
The Rockies are red hot at Coors Field, going 15-4 since July 29. Tracy evengave his starters an early exit, pulling most of them in the eighth inning. Bythe time the game was over, many were showered and gone.
“To give everybody a breather is needed, especially coming into this lastmonth,” Young said. “We need everybody going 100 percent.”
Votto went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .326. He also drove in a run inthe first inning to give him 99 RBIs this season.
With Gonzalez swinging such a hot bat, teams are electing to pitch aroundhim and take their chances with cleanup hitter Tulowitzki.
The strategy backfired Wednesday. After Dexter Fowler(notes) led off the third witha single, Arroyo carefully pitched to Gonzalez before walking him.
Tulowitzki jumped all over a hanging curve, hitting a drive to left for his16th homer.
Then again, pitching to Gonzalez also can be quite hazardous. He hit athree-run drive in Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory and is challenging for the NLTriple Crown. He leads in batting average (.340) and RBIs (100), while trailingAlbert Pujols(notes) by four homers.
NOTES: Rockies C Mike McKenry made his major league debut as a pinch hitter,flying out to shallow center. … Rockies RHP Manuel Corpas(notes) underwent Tommy Johnsurgery Wednesday. … Colorado has beaten the Reds nine straight times at CoorsField since Aug. 23, 2008.
