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Iannetta, Gonzalez homers lift Rockies over Reds

Aug 1, 2009 - 4:21 AM CINCINNATI(AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds are finding new ways to lose during their recent skid.

David Weathers gave up home runs to Chris Iannetta and Carlos Gonzalez on consecutive pitches leading off the eighth inning, lifting the Colorado Rockies to a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Iannetta hit a full-count hanging slider from Weathers (2-3) into the left field seats for his 12th homer of the season to snap a 3-3 tie. Gonzalez followed on the next pitch with a homer into the right-field seats, his second of the season and first in 69 at bats since June 18 to help send the Reds to their 10th loss in their last 11 games. Cincinnati is 3-12 since the All-Star break.

"I just didn't execute," Weathers said. "That's not the first time I've done that, and it probably won't be the last time. The way we're scuffling, the last thing we need is for me to do that. We've found every way there is to lose ballgames. One thing about this team is nobody's pointing any fingers, because they can't."

Manager Dusty Baker almost wasn't surprised to lose on home runs by the seventh and eighth batters in Colorado's lineup.

"They have a potent offense, but you don't expect to get beat by the bottom of the order," Baker said. "It just goes to show you anybody with a bat can be dangerous."

Iannetta had been 1-for-9 on Colorado's road trip and was hitting .225 going into game.

"It has been a struggle this year," he said. "Sometimes, I feel good, and sometimes, I don't. I keep waiting for the day that I turn it around and contribute to the offense. On the home run, it was 3-2, I knew he wanted to throw a strike. He probably caught more of the plate than he wanted. I just put a good swing on it."

Franklin Morales (2-0) got Joey Votto to fly out with runners on first and second and two outs to end the seventh inning. Rafael Betancourt pitched a perfect eighth for Colorado, and Huston Street matched him in the ninth for his 27th save.

Colorado extended its winning streak against NL Central Division teams to 12 games, dating back to a 6-4 loss at Houston on June 3, while sending the Reds to their fourth consecutive defeat and 10th in their last 11 games. Cincinnati is 3-12 since the All-Star break.

Reds right-hander Justin Lehr made his first career start after 66 relief appearances. Lehr, who last pitched in the majors as a reliever for Milwaukee at Cincinnati in May 2006, set a career high with six walks while also allowing four hits and three runs in five innings.

"Half felt like me, half didn't," Lehr said. "At times, I tried to be too perfect. I still would like to have given us a better chance to win. Two of the walks scored."

The Rockies reached Lehr for two runs in the first inning. They loaded the bases with nobody out on two hits and a walk, and after Seth Smith scored from third on Brad Hawpe's fielder's-choice groundout, Troy Tulowitzki drove in Clint Barmes with a sharp grounder down the left field line that went over the third base bag and barely eluded diving third baseman Adam Rosales.

The Reds cut the lead to 2-1 in the second when Brandon Phillips scored from third on Alex Gonzalez's sacrifice fly, but the Rockies capitalized on Lehr's control problems to regain their two-run lead in the third. Lehr walked the bases loaded with one out, and Hawpe scored on Chris Iannetta's sacrifice fly.

Votto and Phillips tied the game with back-to-back home runs - the 16th for each - in the sixth inning. Votto's homer was the first allowed by Cook in his last five starts. He now has allowed 15 home runs this season, two more than he gave up all of last season.

Cook went 6 2-3 innings to pick up his fourth no-decision in his six starts. He gave up seven hits and three runs with two walks and four strikeouts.

Notes: Colorado acquired LHP Joe Beimel from Washington for two minor-league pitchers before the game. ... The Reds traded utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Yankees for a minor-league catcher and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, RHP Josh Roenicke and a minor-league pitcher to Toronto for 3B Scott Rolen.