Rockies blast Pirates at Coors Field

Aug 3, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa (29) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado scored early and often in the first game of their three-game series on Friday night as the Rockies blasted the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-1 at Coors Field.

The Bucs (70-45) are one of only three major league teams with at least 70 wins this season (Atlanta and Boston are the other two) and lost for the first time in six games. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Rockies.

Colorado’s Jorge De La Rosa improved his record to 11-6, as he gave up just one earned run on eight hits over five innings of work. The lefthander issued three walks and three strikeouts on 106 pitches. Righthander Adam Ottavino was the first to answer the call from the bullpen and gave up just one hit in the sixth and seventh innings. Righthander Edgmer Escalona took care of business in the eighth and lefthander Rex Brothers closed it out in the ninth.

The Rockies’ avalanche of offense started in the first inning against the Bucs. With one out, Michael Cuddyer singled to center field which scored D.J. LeMahieu. Wilin Rosario doubled to right field to drive home Troy Tulowitzki and Cuddyer with still just one out. Todd Helton singled to center field to push Rosario across the plate and stake Colorado to a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, Colorado batted around again as they scored five more runs to give them a 9-1 advantage. Rosario drove in four runs on the night while Cuddyer finished with three RBIs.

Colorado’ added one more run in the bottom of the third when Cuddyer grounded into a force out, short to second, which scored Fowler with two out. The Rockies now had a 10-1 lead.

The Pirates’ Francisco Liriano had his shortest outing of the season as he did not make it out of the third inning. He surrendered 10 earned runs on 12 hits over 2 1/3 innings of work. The lefthander has just one strikeout and issued two walks on 73 pitches.

Relievers Vin Mazzaro and Jared Hughes kept the Rockies off the scoreboard for the rest of the game with infielder Josh Harrison on the mound to record the final out in the bottom of the eighth.

Pittsburgh got their only run in the top of the second when with two out, Jordy Mercer hit a sacrifice fly to center field with the base’s loaded that scored Neil Walker.

The second contest of the three-game series will be at 8:10 p.m. on Saturday. The Rockies (53-64) will send righthander Juan Nicasio (6-6, 5.05 ERA) to the hill while the Pirates will counter with righthander A.J. Burnett (5-7, 2.73 ERA).

The 36-year-old will be making his 21st start of the season on Saturday; he has struck out nine batters in each of his last two outings. The game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.

From The Clipboard: Pittsburgh is scheduled to play 12 of their next 15 games on the road….With their victory over the Marlins on Thursday night, tt is the fastest the Pirates have reached the 70-win mark since the 1972 club was 70-42 after 112 games….Andrew McCutchen is now the team leader in multi-hit games with 40….Jason Grilli will start playing catch this weekend in Colorado as he continues his rehab to get back to the bullpen. The Bucs closer has been on the disabled list with a right forearm strain since July 23.