Final
Stewart's grand slam powers Rockies past Pirates
Aug 22, 2007 - 5:00 AM DENVER (Ticker) -- Ian Stewart made his first home run a memorable one.Stewart blasted a grand slam and Elmer Dessens and Taylor Buchholz combined to pitch eight solid innings to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 9-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.
Stewart sent a 2-1 offering from Pirates starter Tony Armas(2-4) just over the left-center field wall to give the Rockies a 4-1 lead in the third inning.
"I was just trying to get one or two runs in and was able to get a good part of the bat on the ball," Stewart said. "After that, everyone kind of got hot and this was a good win for us."
Yorvit Torrealba and Jamey Carroll led off the inning with back-to-back singles. After Dessens' sacrifice bunt, Ryan Spilborghs drew a four-pitch walk to set the stage for Stewart to deliver his first career homer.
The 22-year-old rookie became the second player in franchise history to hit a grand slam with his first career blast. The first was Jim Tatum, who accomplished the feat on May 4, 1993.
"It was great," Stewart said. "For the first home run to be a grand slam is pretty special. I'm just trying to go out there and play and have fun and there will be more to come down the road."
Playing in just his eighth game, Stewart is now 4-for-12 (.333) with six RBI in his major league career.
Dessens gave up two runs on six hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings before Buchholz (6-4) entered to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless frames.
"He has retired the last 15 batters he has faced going back to LA," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Buchholz. "He's pitching like he is comfortable out there and that is good enough for me. His actions speak louder than words. He pitches with a lot of confidence."
Buchholz, who retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced, inherited two baserunners in the fifth inning but was able to get Jason Bay to pop out to end the threat.
"I've been locked in lately," Buchholz said. "I'm working the fastball in and out and mixing in the curveball once in awhile. I just came in to eat up innings for the bullpen. I was trying to keep the pitch count down and get guys out."
Matt Holliday belted a solo shot as part of a three-run fifth that opened the Rockies' advantage to 7-2.
Rookie Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe blasted back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning for a 9-2 lead. It was the second time this season the Rockies have hit back-to-back homers, the first coming on June 15 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
"Troy is a great young player," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "Once he gets more familiar with all the pitchers, he will do really well. It looks like he is having a lot of fun out there."
The four home runs were a season-high for Colorado, which avoided a three-game losing streak.
Armas hurled 4 1/3 innings, yielding seven runs and eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts as Pittsburgh had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Nate McLouth gave the Pirates an early 1-0 advantage in the third with his eighth home run of the season.
- NL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 8 0
COLORADO 0 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 x 9 12 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: PIT - TONY ARMAS, SHANE YOUMAN (5TH), FRANQUELIS OSORIA (8TH) AND
RONNY PAULINO, CARLOS MALDONADO (8TH)
COL - ELMER DESSENS, TAYLOR BUCHHOLZ (5TH), RAMON ORTIZ
(9T
Aug 22 12:17 AM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY BRAD HAWPE (22) TO CENTER WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 7TH OFF SHANE YOUMAN.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2, COLORADO 9
DUE UP FOR COLORADO: Y TORREALBA (.269, 2-FOR-3, 2 RBI)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 11:25 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY TROY TULOWITZKI (17) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 7TH OFF SHANE YOUMAN.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2, COLORADO 8
DUE UP FOR COLORADO: B HAWPE (.291, 0-FOR-2, BB)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 11:24 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY YORVIT TORREALBA SCORED TODD HELTON AND TROY
TULOWITZKI.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, Y TORREALBA ON FIRST, B HAWPE ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
COLORADO 7 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR COLORADO: J CARROLL (.234, 1-FOR-2)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 10:52 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY MATT HOLLIDAY (22) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN
THE 5TH OFF TONY ARMAS.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2, COLORADO 5
DUE UP FOR COLORADO: T HELTON (.297, 0-FOR-1, BB)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 10:46 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND OUT BY FREDDY SANCHEZ SCORED NATE MCLOUTH.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 2
COLORADO 4 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: A LAROCHE (.265, 1-FOR-1, BB)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 10:31 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
GRAND SLAM BY IAN STEWART (1) TO LEFT WITH 1 OUT IN THE 3RD
OFF TONY ARMAS SCORED YORVIT TORREALBA, JAMEY CARROLL AND RYAN
SPILBORGHS.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1, COLORADO 4
DUE UP FOR COLORADO: M HOLLIDAY (.333, 0-FOR-1)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 10:00 PM - NL
AT COLORADO - SCORING UPDATE
SOLO HOME RUN BY NATE MCLOUTH (8) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
THE 3RD OFF ELMER DESSENS.
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 1, COLORADO 0
DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: J BAUTISTA (.258, 1-FOR-1)
Pirates vs. RockiesAug 21 9:41 PM
Related News
- Tuesday Rockpile: What did the Rockies get in trading for Cal Quantrill? Dec 26
- Monday Rockpile: What’s under the tree for Rockies’ fans this Christmas? Dec 25
- This Week in Purple: Happy Holidays! Dec 23
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23
- The Pirates got it right with Andrew McCutchen Dec 22
- Friday Rockpile: Rockies rookies Jones and Tovar earn well-deserved bonuses Dec 22
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen makes comments after signing Dec 22
- Pirates targeting first baseman in upcoming MLB Draft Dec 22
- Thursday Rockpile: Should the Rockies consider a reunion with Mike Moustakas? Dec 21
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates sign Ryan Mattson Dec 21
- Every Rockie Ever Podcast: Troy Tulowitzki Dec 20
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 7 - Johan Oviedo shuts out the Royals Dec 20