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Six home runs lead Pirates over Rockies

Aug 23, 2007 - 4:52 AM By Derek Nagy PA Sports Ticker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) - The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their torrid hitting in August at Coors Field.

The Pirates pounded out a season-high six home runs, including two from rookie Nate McLouth, and Tom Gorzelanny pitched seven solid innings as the Pirates pounded the Colorado Rockies, 11-2, on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh entered the game second behind only the New York Yankees in runs scored in August and padded that total, scoring 10 or more runs for the fifth time this month. The Pirates have scored a major league-best 146 runs in August while posting a 12-9 record.

Gorzelanny (12-7) pitched six solid innings, allowing just six hits and two runs. He is 3-0 with a 1.22 ERA over his last three road starts.

"It was decent," Gorzelanny said. "I kind of fought through it but was able to make some quality pitches and get outs and get through it."

The Pirates scored in each of the first six innings and pounded ineffective Rockies starter Josh Fogg (7-9) for 11 hits and eight runs in just three innings. Fogg allowed a season-worst four home runs, including both to McLouth, who now has 10 on the season.

Freddy Sanchez had four hits and three RBI and Jack Wilson also had three RBI for Pittsburgh.

"I think the way we've been swinging the bats all month, we kind of feed off what other guys do around you," McLouth said. "We've all been getting pitches to hit and we're not missing. More than any other month or any time this year, we're getting good pitches and not missing them."

The Pirates jumped on Fogg right away, scoring twice in the first inning. McLouth singled to begin the game and advanced to third on some shoddy defense by left fielder Matt Holliday. After Jose Bautista doubled to score McLouth, Sanchez followed with a run-scoring double of his own.

The Pittsburgh lead bulged to 6-0 in the second on two Pirate home runs. The first was a three-run home run by Wilson, his seventh blast of the season. After Gorzelanny grounded out, McLouth hit a solo shot for his first home run of the game.

The hit parade didn't end there as the Pirates hit lead off home runs in the next three innings. Xavier Nady hit his 16th home run of the season in the third before McLouth went deep for the second time in the game leading off the fourth. Jason Bay followed with his 19th home run in the fifth.

"We've been swinging the bats very well during the month of August and I think tonight we may have taken it a notch above where we've been," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.

Determined not to be left out of the home run category, Sanchez added a two-run home run in the sixth, his ninth of the campaign, capping off the Pirates' scoring.

Fogg allowed a season-high eight earned runs.

"I threw the ball down the middle way too much, I just couldn't find it tonight," Fogg said. "Just a poor pitching performance all around."

The Rockies picked up their two runs in the fourth, as Ryan Spilborghs singled, plating rookie Troy Tulowitzki, who doubled with one out. Spilborghs later scored on pitcher Ramon Ortiz's base hit.