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Tulowitzki homers, Rockies beat Reds

Aug 10, 2011 - 4:55 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run homer to power the Rockies past the Reds, 3-2, in the second of a four-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Dexter Fowler added two hits and an RBI and Carlos Gonzalez scored a run for Colorado, which won for the fourth time in six tries.

Esmil Rogers (6-1) earned the win, giving up two runs on eight hits over six frames.

"You gotta give him a lot of credit," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. "That was a gutsy performance, especially because the pitch count got up there a little bit towards the end."

Ramon Hernandez went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Dontrelle Willis had an RBI triple for Cincinnati, which has dropped five of its last six.

Willis (0-2) was pegged with the loss despite holding Colorado to three runs and five hits and striking out a season-high 10 over eight strong innings. Willis has held opponents to three runs or fewer in each of his six starts this season.

"I'm not going to feel sorry for my self and I'm not going let my guys feel sorry for themselves," Willis said. "Nobody is holding their head down we just need that one big pitch or that one big hit."

The Rockies took their 3-2 lead in the fifth after loading the bases with one out. Fowler singled to center to plate Chris Iannetta, but a strong throw from Drew Stubbs kept Rogers at third and Willis was able to get Gonzalez to fly out to end the frame.

Cincinnati put a runner on third with two outs in the sixth, but Rogers was able to get Edgar Renteria to ground out.

The Reds were unable to put together a late rally and Rafael Betancourt picked up his first save of the season after tossing a perfect ninth frame.

Willis helped his own cause, driving in Hernandez with a triple in the second for a 1-0 lead. Hernandez led off with a single before Willis smoked a slider into the corner in right field for his sixth career triple.

Colorado put up two in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Fowler singled up the middle before Tulowitzki belted his 22nd homer of the year.

The Reds tied the game at 2-2 in the home half of the fourth. Todd Frazier struck out but reached on a wild pitch and moved to second when Dave Sappelt singled. Renteria then smoked a line drive back to Rogers, who managed to get his glove on the ball to knock it down and throw to second to get the force out. But Frazier never stopped around third and beat the throw to the plate to score the tying run.

Game Notes

Tulowitzki had a five-game multi-hit streak snapped...The Colorado bullpen allowed one baserunner over three innings...Willis has yet to win a game with the Reds. He extended his hitting streak to six games.